The Los Angeles City Council is set to vote on Tuesday on whether to initiate a study for a proposed minimum wage increase to $32.35 per hour for construction workers on mid-sized apartment buildings. This wage would apply to projects with 10 or more units and a height of up to 85 feet, and includes an additional $7.65 per hour in healthcare credits.
According to LAist, the proposal aims to address wage theft and improve living standards for construction workers, who currently earn a median wage of $18 per hour. It also seeks to stabilize the labor force amid challenges like recent wildfires and immigration enforcement fears. Projects already covered by labor agreements offering higher wages would be exempt.
Councilmembers Curren Price and Hugo Soto-Martínez, who introduced the motion, emphasize the need to curb the exploitation of vulnerable laborers and ensure that those building housing in Los Angeles can afford to live there. Supporters of the measure include construction unions and pro-housing groups, who argue that the wage increase would help attract more local workers to the construction industry.
However, some in the business community express concerns. Stuart Waldman, president of the Valley Industry and Commerce Association, criticized the proposal as potentially detrimental to development, warning it could deter builders from undertaking projects in Los Angeles.
The proposed study would assess the impact of the wage increase, including how it might affect housing and healthcare affordability for workers. If the council approves the study, it could lead to significant changes in urban labor policy as Los Angeles balances labor equity with housing development goals.
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