Councilors to discuss minimum wage enforcement

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - City councilors plan to discuss the enforcement of Albuquerque’s minimum wage law Wednesday night.
    
The owner of Route 66 Malt Shop claims he worked out an agreement with his employees to pay them the old minimum wage of $7.50 an hour, instead of the new minimum wage of $8.50 an hour.
    
He says it's either that or layoffs.
    
Some city councilors are criticizing the city attorney's claim that the only way to enforce the new law is for employees to sue.

“My biggest concern if that is the case and we cannot find some enforcement that we are going to see a domino effect within many of these restaurant owners that feel if they don't pay it, then why should we,” City Councilor Ken Sanchez said.
    
The minimum wage is also a hot topic at the Roundhouse.
    
A constitutional amendment to increase the minimum wage died in the house Tuesday, but a bill to boost it in the senate is still alive.