A recent national report shows that Louisiana is one of only five states without a state-set minimum wage, but state officials say it doesn’t really matter.
The National Conference of State Legislators report shows that Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee have no set minimums that must be paid to workers in private or public jobs.
But that doesn’t mean most employers can get away with paying less than the $7.25 per hour minimum federal wage, said Tom Guarisco, spokesman for the Louisiana Office of Workforce Development.
Exceptions in federal law allow some employers to pay less than minimum wage.
“Our workers are covered by federal minimum wage,” Guarisco said. “Given that scenario, we have no plans to propose a state minimum wage.”
The Legislature has blocked attempts to create a state minimum wage. Lawmakers went even further by preventing municipal and parish governments from establishing minimum wage requirements because it would be bad for business.
The 2012 Legislature approved Lake Charles Sen. Ronnie Johns’ SB521, which further prohibits local governments from setting a “mandatory, minimum number of vacation or sick leave days.”
Tom Ed McHugh, director of the Louisiana Municipal Association, said he doesn’t know the reasoning for such a law.
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via Louisiana: No minimum wage law? No problem | The Advertiser | theadvertiser.com.
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