Joe Biden wants to double the minimum wage in the United States

Double the minimum wage to lift millions of Americans out of poverty.

Joe Biden's ambitious proposal, already on the desk of lawmakers, could prove to be a social revolution for the poorest in the United States, a country with glaring socio-economic disparities.

This has not changed since July 24, 2009.

"

Even before the pandemic, the federal minimum wage of $ 7.25 was economically and morally indefensible,

" said Virginia Democrat Bobby Scott in introducing the bill.

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Although very popular among the population, even in the ranks of Republican partisans, and supported for more than a decade by the unions, the initiative is met with opposition from Republicans under pressure from corporate lobbies who refuse costs. additional.

A "

famine wage

"

"

In the richest country in the world, when we work 40 hours a week, we should not live in poverty,

" insisted Bernie Sanders, former progressive presidential candidate who carries the project and hopes to convince the skeptics.

"

This is not a radical ideal

," assured the senator from Vermont, calling the current $ 7.25 a "

starvation wage

".

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The economic slump caused by the pandemic mainly affects small businesses, especially in the restaurant sector.

They therefore do not welcome this proposal included in the gigantic bailout of 1900 billion dollars.

The vice-president of the National Federation of Restaurants (NRA) Sean Kennedy thus freshly welcomed the project, especially since he understands the obligation to pay this minimum wage in full, regardless of tips imposed on customers.

These allow bosses to pay employees only two or three dollars when these famous "

tips

" fill the gap with the 7.25 dollars.

This measure "will

entail insurmountable costs

" for many establishments which will have no choice but to lay off more or to close permanently, predicts Sean Kennedy.

New Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen retorts that "

raising the minimum wage will lift tens of millions of Americans out of poverty while creating opportunities for countless small businesses across the country

."

It all depends on how it will be implemented, she argued, noting a gradual increase of $ 15 by 2025, giving "

enough time to adapt

".

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Virtuous circle?

But the Biden administration highlights the virtuous circle: Paying those with the lowest wages would drive billions of dollars in additional consumer spending on goods and services provided ... by small businesses.

In 2019, 1.6 million workers had wages at or below the federal minimum, or 1.9% of all workers paid by the hour, according to the Bureau of Statistics.

If the southern and central states generally apply the minimum wage, those of the east and wealthy California have set a much higher rate: 12, 13 or even 15 dollars.

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The proposal, which illustrates the social turn desired by Joe Biden, will be difficult to pass even if the Democrats dominate both chambers.

Bernie Sanders has already mentioned the use of a device to ratify the law by a simple majority.