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Mayor de Blasio signs increase in NYC 'living wage'

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio's executive order increasing the "living wage" also expands the minimum to employees in buildings that get large city subsidies.

By Frances Burns
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio UPI/Seth Wenig/Pool
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio UPI/Seth Wenig/Pool | License Photo

NEW YORK, Sept. 30 (UPI) -- New York Mayor Bill de Blasio signed an executive order Tuesday raising the "living wage" minimum for employees of city contractors.

The mayor also expanded the group of employees covered by the law, adding those who work for companies with offices in buildings that get large city subsidies. Officials estimate 18,000 people will now be covered by the law, up from 1,800.

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Under the mayor's order, employees who get benefits must be paid at least $11.50 per hour, while those who do not have benefits must get $13.13. They had been entitled to $10.30 with benefits and $11.90 without.

"We are raising the floor for working families struggling to get by," de Blasio said.

Carl Scissura, president of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, said that if council had voted on the increase, business owners would have been able to comment at public hearings.

"We continue to oppose any additional regulations that burden businesses," he said.

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