Massachusetts Could Be the Next State to Get Rid of the ‘Subminimum Wage’ for Tipped Workers

Tipped workers in Massachusetts could soon be earning the same minimum wage as other workers, as a bill to eliminate the subminimum wage for tipped workers moves through the state legislature.

The bill, H.4021, would gradually raise the minimum wage for tipped workers to the full minimum wage, which is currently $15 per hour. The bill would also eliminate the tip credit, which allows employers to pay tipped workers less than the minimum wage.

The bill is sponsored by Representative Jay Livingstone, a Democrat from Boston. Livingstone said that the bill is necessary to ensure that tipped workers are paid a fair wage.

“Tipped workers are some of the hardest working people in our state, and they deserve to be paid a fair wage,” Livingstone said. “This bill would help to ensure that tipped workers are able to make a decent living and support their families.”

The bill has been met with opposition from the restaurant industry, which argues that eliminating the subminimum wage would lead to higher prices for consumers. The Massachusetts Restaurant Association said that the bill would “devastate” the restaurant industry.

“The restaurant industry is already struggling to recover from the pandemic, and this bill would only make things worse,” the Massachusetts Restaurant Association said. “We urge the legislature to reject this bill.”

The bill is currently being considered by the Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development. The committee is expected to vote on the bill in the coming weeks.

If the bill is passed by the legislature, it would be signed by Governor Charlie Baker. Baker has not yet said whether he supports the bill.