Increase in State Minimum Wage

Governor Ned Lamont signed House Bill No. 5004 on May 28, 2019. The bill, entitled “An Act Increasing Minimum Fair Wage,” increases Connecticut’s minimum wage to approximately $ 15.00 an hour over the next four years.

The current minimum wage rate of $ 10.10 will increase under the new law in accordance with the following schedule:

• $11.00 per hour on October 1, 2019;
• $12.00 per hour on September 1, 2020;
• $13.00 per hour on August 1, 2021;
• $14.00 per hour on July 1, 2022; and
• $15.00 per hour on October 15, 2023. 

After October 15, 2023, increase, the minimum wage will be linked to the federal employment cost index and will be announced annually by the Labor Commissioner on January 1.

There is also a provision that allows the labor commissioner to recommend minimum wage increases against scheduled increases,

those recommendations are submitted to the governor according to the law, who then submits recommendations to the General Assembly of Connecticut as to whether the minimum wage increases should be suspended.

Employers may want to reassess their current pay practices to ensure that the increases start on October 1, 2019, are met.