US President Barack Obama is slated to push his proposal for a minimum wage increase again Wednesday, this time before a group of governors meeting in Connecticut.
Obama and other Democrats want the federal wage raised from $7.25 to $10.10 an hour, but most Republicans are opposed, saying it will cost too many jobs and hurt the still-fragile economy.
Some conservatives even want the concept eliminated entirely.
However, compared to other countries, America really isn't paying its poorest workers all that much.
These nine countries pay a higher minimum wage than the United States, according to figures from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.
Wages were adjusted for purchasing power parity and used 2012 US dollars as the base year:
1. Luxembourg ($10.66/hour)
2. France ($10.60/hour)
3. Australia ($10.21/hour)
4. Belgium ($9.97/hour)
5. The Netherlands ($9.48/hour)
6. Ireland ($9.01/hour)
7. New Zealand ($8.62/hour)
8. United Kingdom ($7.88/hour)
9. Canada ($7.85/hour)
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