SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Omar Aquino (D-Chicago) is praising legislation signed into law today that will give working families a raise by increasing the state’s minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2025.

“Paying people in Illinois what their labor is worth is long overdue,” said Aquino. “For years, people have been underpaid to the point to where, even if they work more than 60 hours a week, they still live in poverty. That is immoral, and we can do better.”

The minimum wage will raise to $10 per hour by the end of 2020, and increase by $1 each year until it reaches $15 in 2025. The law also provides a payroll withholding refund to small businesses to assist them in the transition to a higher minimum wage.

“At a time when there is massive wealth inequality, raising the minimum wage will help bring power and dignity back to the lives of working people – regardless of where they live in our state,” said Aquino.

Senator Aquino looks forward to working with Gov. JB Pritzker to pass more progressive legislation to help poor and working families in Illinois.