HILO — A state Senate committee advanced a $15-an-hour minimum wage bill this week.
Senate Bill 107, as amended Tuesday, would increase the wage each year until it reached that mark in 2021.
The state’s minimum wage currently is $9.25, up from $7.25 in 2014.
Supporters say the wage needs to be raised further to provide a living wage for Hawaii residents.
The Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law &Economic Justice wrote in its testimony that Hawaii has the lowest wages when cost of living is included.
“As a result, many of our state’s families are teetering at the edge of poverty and homelessness,” the organization said.
In written testimony, ABC Stores said the minimum wage should be looked at as a “training wage.”
“This bill will make it more difficult for employers to train and hire individual with no work experience,” said Neil Ishida, the company’s public relations director.
The minimum wage will go to $10.10 in 2018, the last scheduled increase.
Several bills have been introduced to continue increasing the wage, but many have been deferred, including one that would have set a $22 an hour minimum wage in 2022.
SB 107 will next be considered by the Senate Ways and Means Committee.
The Senate Judiciary &Labor Committee passed it Tuesday along with a sick leave bill.
Senate Bill 425 in its original form requires businesses with at least 50 employees to provide leave. The bill was amended and it wasn’t clear Thursday what changes were made.
The Hawaii Island Chamber of Commerce opposed both bills.