Minimum wage increases to $6.55
By Deborah Bennett Millen News Editor

On July 24, the federal minimum wage increased from $5.58 to $6.55 per hour. This amounts to a $28 a week raise for fulltime employees.

Approximately 672,000 Georgians are expected to benefit from the three-step increase in the federal minimum wage from $5.15 per hour in 2007 to $7.25 per hour in July 2009, according to the Georgia Minimum Wage Coalition.

This is the second increase in the rate since 1997, the longest period of time to elapse without an increase.

The Minimum Wage Act was passed in 1938 and a minimum wage rate of 28 cents was established. Increases followed through the years so that by Jan. 1, 1978, the rate was $2.65 per hour and $4.95 by Jan. 1, 1991. It was increased to $5.15 per hour in 1997.