By Dallas Parker
April 14, 2020
While thousands of Alabamians have filed for unemployment benefits in the past few weeks, essential workers are still making their daily commutes. But is their risk worth the reward? One human rights advocacy group believes the state should be taking better care of its essential employees.
The Center for American Progress said employees whose wages have not kept up with inflation and increasing costs are feeling the biggest economic crunch during this crisis. Minimum wage workers make up a significant portion of essential employees.
“We need higher minimum wage to help reflect the essential role that working folks play in our society,” explained Chris Sanders of Alabama Arise.
Some of those workers don’t make enough money to save for a rainy day.