On January 28, 2013, Governor Chris Christie conditionally vetoed a Bill that would have increased the New Jersey Minimum Wage from $7.25 per hour to $8.50 per hour, with additional annual increases that would have been tied to the Consumer Price Index.
Instead of the increases as proposed in the Bill, the Governor's conditional veto provides for a $1.00 per hour increase that will be phased in over time so as not to create an undue burden for employers.
If approved by the Legislature, the increase schedule will be:
March 1, 2013 – $ .25 increase
March 1, 2014 – $ .50 increase
March 1, 2015 – $ .25 increase
The Governor's conditional veto demonstrates a balanced approach that addresses the concerns of low income wage earners while also taking into consideration the economic realities of small businesses in the State.
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