Letter to the Editor: Let Employers Determine Minimum Wage, Not Politicians

The following Letter to the Editor was submitted by National Federation of Independent Business Member Ted Hsu:

Politicians in Hartford are debating whether to raise the minimum wage. They have argued that it will elevate the poor, and that it will boost the economy. As a small business owner in a competitive market, I can promise that it will have the opposite effect.

First, most employers already pay more than the minimum wage. Those that pay the minimum wage can’t afford to pay more. Generally that means they’re struggling. Raising their payroll expenses now would push them over the edge. 

Secondly, raising the minimum wage inflates labor costs all the way up the scale. So it’s a myth that this will only affect entry-level workers. Once they get a pay raise, the wage scale for everyone else moves up. Businesses that can’t afford to pay more will simply refuse to hire new workers, lay off existing workers, limit work hours for everyone or a combination of all three.

Poor people won’t be helped by this because there will be fewer jobs for them.  And they’ll be competing for those jobs against workers with better qualifications. The politicians in Hartford should let workers and employers determine the minimum wage and focus on their own jobs, like balancing the state budget and making Connecticut more competitive.

About this column: The opinions expressed herein are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Patch. Submit your Letters To The Editor by sending them to david.moran@patch.com.