Miami-Dade County Workers May See Wage Stagnation Under New...

Qué pasó

Miami-Dade County can no longer mandate a living wage for workers employed by companies holding county contracts. This change became effective September 30, 2026, due to a new Florida state law, HB 433, passed in 2024.

The county had previously required certain contractors to pay employees more than the state minimum wage, a policy known as a living wage.

Dónde y cuándo

The directive took effect on September 30, 2026, impacting contracts with Miami-Dade County. This change is tied to a state-level decision impacting public contracting practices across Florida.

Workers in sectors like cleaning, security, food service, transportation, and airport services are among those potentially affected.

Por qué es importante

While no one loses wages immediately, this change could significantly reduce earnings for thousands of workers when their current contracts are renewed. The difference could amount to over $7.50 per hour, or over $15,000 annually for a full-time employee.

This limits the county's ability to use its purchasing power to ensure a higher standard of living for service workers, widening the gap between the state minimum wage and a true living wage.

Qué dicen las partes

The new state law, HB 433, prohibits counties from including living wage requirements in new contracts signed after September 30, 2026. Miami-Dade County had maintained its living wage program since 1999.

The Florida Commerce department and Miami-Dade County are the sources for this information, highlighting the shift in mandated wage standards for contracted services.

Qué viene ahora

The impact will be gradual, occurring as existing contracts expire and are replaced. Companies will no longer be obligated by the county to pay the established living wage rates.

Workers may see their hourly wages decrease from current living wage levels (e.g., $22.53/hour without benefits) down to the state minimum wage (e.g., $15/hour) or whatever rate the company sets in new agreements.