Local Minimum Wage Worker Believes Possible Minimum Wage Increase Could Be A Positive Thing

Local Minimum Wage Worker Believes 
Possible Minimum Wage Increase Could 
Be A Positive Thing

LANSING - Alex Harakas, a student at Michigan State University who is currently working a minimum wage job to make her way through her last semester in college, says that she thinks a possible minimum wage increase could be beneficial.

"I just feel like it will give workers more of an incentive to work harder at their job," Harakas said.

Harakas has been working in minimum wage jobs ever since she has been eligible to work in the State of Michigan. She said she has seen minimum wage go from $6.25 to $7.40, what it is now.

The Obama administration just recently proposed the minimum wage to be raised from $7.25 to $10.10. Although this has not yet been finalized, according to a report by the Congressional Budget Office, this could pull 0.2 percent of the population out of poverty, but in turn eliminate 500,000 jobs in the private sector.

CEO of Capital Area Michigan Works, Edythe Hatter-Williams said she thinks it is very important to express how important education is.

"I think one of the things that we've been pushing is education is key to economic stability."

Edythe Hatter-Williams said she believes if businesses are forced to increase the minimum wage, then this could result in offering less jobs to individuals, which could in turn, force more individuals to seek help to find jobs.

"I do think that we will see an increase in our three service centers, but certainly that's what were here for."

Capital Area Michigan works has three locations: Lansing, Charlotte, and St. Johns.

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