Some believe teenagers should be paid less for doing the same jobs as their adult coworkers. A Missouri lawmaker has introduced a new bill that would allow employers to pay minors a lower hourly wage.
If SB 1325 is passed, the subminimum wage could go into effect in August. Minimum wage in Missouri is $15, but with the new bill, minors could get paid as little as $12.30.
“I filed this bill because I heard from businesses in my district. Some businesses that employ a large number of teenagers are actually going to be letting a lot of them go,” Missouri Sen. Joseph Nicola (R-Jackson County), the sponsor of the bill, said in an interview with KCRG-TV. “Their feeling is if we have to pay the same amount as an adult that has work experience, they might as well just go with the adult.”
Senior Amir Pazhoohi works at Third Street Social where, alongside adults, he cleans tables and takes food to customers. Pazhoohi said his paycheck is very important for gas, food and personal expenses, and he initially believed a lower wage for minors “somewhat made sense.” But after learning the details of SB 1325, he changed his mind.
“I would not be OK with that bill,” Pazhoohi said. “Prices are still going up. Paying minors less sends a bad message.”
Pazhoohi also thinks that the bill could discourage teenagers who are working to save for college.
“Teens want to get paid. If they’re not paid enough, they’ll still work, but they won’t get as much money as they could,” Pazhoohi said. “It can affect their development and college plans.”
Sophomore Rylee Hites had a job where she served customers, cooked and cleaned. She believed most minors would quit if this bill was passed.
“Most young people wouldn’t apply for jobs and just wait till they’re 18 so they get paid more,” Hites said.
Hites said employers don’t care that teens will be paid less for their work, even while doing the same jobs. She believed this bill would make businesses hire more teens because they don’t have to pay as much.
“Most minors would quit because they have to pay us less,” Hites said. “If I’m getting paid $12.30 an hour, I’m just not going to work.”
Freshman Braylin Rocha works at Hot Rocks Pizza.
“My responsibilities are, treat my tables with respect, make sure everything’s stocked before my shift’s over, just do my best and be kind and make sure people feel welcome,” Rocha said.
Rocha said her paycheck is really important. 
“I just like having it so that I don’t have to rely on other people, and it makes me feel responsible,” Rocha said.
Rocha said it is unfair to pay minors less.
“If we’re doing the same thing, it’s a little unfair to pay us less, especially working the same hours,” Rocha said.
She said the bill would also affect adult employees.
“Employers would be putting adult workers in less and putting the teenagers in more, so it’s less money they have to pay people,” Rocha said. “It could cause a little bit of loss of respect for their older coworkers because they’re doing the same job.”
Rocha said the bill could also affect other aspects of teenagers’ lives.
“Some young people have to pay for gas to get to and from work to school,” Rocha said. “It has an effect on people’s transportation, the money to eat, just little things that affect their daily life.”
If passed, the bill would go into effect Aug. 28.
