Can you imagine getting paid less than another new worker doing the same job just because you are younger? The state of Michigan is allowing this to happen with the adjustments to the minimum wage law that passed on January 1, 2018. Lawmakers thought fewer jobs would be created for minors if the minimum wage for everyone was increased to $9.25 per hour (“Michigan Minimum Wage for 2017, 2018”). Therefore, the minimum wage should be the same no matter what age you are. It is clear that equal minimum wage is needed to improve equal pay and to decrease the discrimination of many young adults.
As minimum wage is a low pay scale teens are still being paid less than minimum wage. Michigan set the minimum wage for $9.25/hour (“Michigan Minimum Wage”). They didn’t publicize the exceptions for minors. Those exceptions include paying an employee under age 20 $4.25/hour for the first 90 days as a”training wage”, then they can pay them $7.86/hour (“Michigan Minimum Wage for 2017, 2018”). Most minors that are still in school are not working 40 hours/week because they are still in school 35 hours per week. Hence, on the weekends, students are “cheap help” to employers seeking help. This may hinder people over 18 from getting needed hours to
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The Government allowed a loophole for minors to have their minimum wage be 15 % less than a 19-year-old. I do not recall minors getting to pay 15% less for their auto insurance, or 15% less for gas. Minors actually pay a premium to get auto insurance coverage (“Car Insurance for Teens”). While one can not discriminate against race, creed, nationality, or age to obtain the job, this law legally allows the employer to pay a minor less. Yet teens age 16 to 18 years old is the biggest percentage of minimum wage workers at 31% (“11 Facts About The Minimum Wage That President Obama Forgot To Mention”). People should not feel discriminated about the pay rate of people doing the same