NEW MEXICO’S MINIMUM WAGE LOSES 16 PERCENT OF ITS PURCHASING POWER. THAT’S WHAT A STUDY BY NEW MEXICO VOICES FOR CHILDREN HAS SHOWN. THE STATE MINIMUM WAGE IS 7-50 AN HOUR AND THE GROUP’S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, JAMES JIMENEZ, SAYS THAT AMOUNT NOW HAS THE PURCHASING POWER OF 6-DOLLARS-AND-30 CENTS.
SOME CITIES AND COUNTIES IN THE STATE HAVE UPPED THE WAGE. BUT THE STUDY ADDS THAT THE PEOPLE WHO WOULD BENEFIT MOST FROM INCREASING THE WAGE ARE WOMEN, MOTHERS AND PEOPLE OVER 25 YEARS OLD.
JIMENEZ SAYS WHAT’S GOTTEN MORE EXPENSIVE SINCE 2009 ARE FOOD, UTILITIES, RENT AND BASICS, LIKE DIAPERS. HE SAYS THE STATE HAS YET TO HIKE THE MINIMUM WAGE BUT GIVEN OUR CHILD POVERTY RATE, THE WAGE REALLY NEEDS TO BE INCREASE.
