-—FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—-
 
NEW YORK, NY (February 12, 2014) – After promising to do so in his State of the Union address earlier this month, President Barack Obama has signed an executive order today to raise the minimum wage for federally contracted employees to $10.10 per hour.

The Islamic Circle of North America thanks the president for taking the initiative to secure a living wage for millions of underpaid workers.

ICNA President Naeem Baig (R) with the US Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez during the signing of the Minimum Wage Executive Order by President Barack Obama at the White House.
ICNA President Naeem Baig (R) with the US Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez during the signing of the Minimum Wage Executive Order by President Barack Obama at the White House.

Low-wage employees and faith leaders joined officials, including Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez and Congressman Keith Ellison, on this occasion. Naeem Baig, president of ICNA, was among those invited by the White House to witness the signing.
“This is a promising step toward economic fairness,” says Baig. “But this is just the beginning. It can’t end here.”
The president said he is pressing for Congress to follow suit by signing a bill that would raise the federal minimum wage of all Americans to $10.10 an hour. Doing so will help millions and grow the economy.
ICNA joins the President to ask Congress and local and state officials to increase the minimum wage to a level that can support individuals and their loved ones.
ICNA President Naeem Baig (L) with Congressman Keith Ellison (D-MN) during the signing of the Minimum Wage Executive Order by President Barack Obama at the White House.
ICNA President Naeem Baig (L) with Congressman Keith Ellison (D-MN) during the signing of the Minimum Wage Executive Order by President Barack Obama at the White House.

It also calls on large corporations and small businesses to pay their employees respectable wages that afford a decent living. It is unacceptable for people to suffer poverty despite working full time.
“Let us work together to demand proper living wages for our communities,” says Baig.
ICNA asks all Americans to call and email their elected representatives and urge them to sign the bill to increase the federal minimum wage.

13 Responses

  1. ICNA trying to be politically correct? For the photo-op it doesn’t matter how many drone attacks are made or the Guantanamo or the continued plight if Afghani and Iraqis.

  2. It wouldn’t be long before 10 is worth less than 5. The solution is not in raising wages. The problem of printing money without collateral and interest needs to be addressed.

  3. ICNA need to hire some economic experts. I like ICNA and was in the youth league for years, but this is beyond their scope. Minimum wage is basically price fixing, which is opposed by Islam. Also, it hurts the unskilled labor force since it prices them out of the market. Many small businesses are struggling, they will have to lay off people. Also, grocery stores, which make 1.5% profit, will have no choice but to raise their prices… more expensive food hurts the poor disproportionately. Please do your due diligence before supporting positions that sound good, but hurt the poor.

  4. Only sharia and khilafa will fix the economy and end poverty not corrupt man made economic system s or simply raising the minimum wage by a couple of dollars

Leave a Reply

SUBSCRIBE
OUR NEWSLETTER

Islamic Circle of North America
166-26 89th Ave
Jamaica, Queens
NY 11432

Telephone/Fax: (855) 855-ICNA (4262)