Effective Jan. 1, 2009, the minimum wage increases to $8.00/hr.

A revised labor law poster issued by the Connecticut Department of Labor includes an increase in the  Connecticut minimum wage from $7.65 per hour to $8 per hour effective Jan. 1, 2009.

The mandatory Connecticut labor law poster also includes a second increase in the Connecticut minimum wage to $8.25 per hour effective Jan. 1, 2010. The minimum wage increases are the result of a new state law passed earlier this year.

Previous minimum wage rates for 2003 through 2006 have been removed from the Wage & Workplace Standards Division poster. The current minimum wage rate (effective Jan. 1, 2007) remains on the poster.

Also added to the Connecticut labor law poster are the new gratuity allowances for waitpersons and bartenders, effective Jan. 1, 2009. The gratuity allowance for waitpersons is 31 percent and 11 percent for bartenders.

In the “Gratuities” section of the poster, information has been added stating that gratuity allowances for employees in industries other than hotel and restaurant shall not exceed 35 cents per hour.