Government
Minimum Wage and Fair Access to Additional Hours of Work
In 2022, voters in the City of Tukwila approved Initiative Measure No. 1, which concerns labor standards for certain employees who work in Tukwila.
This measure added Chapter 5.63 and 5.04.113 (the “Ordinance”) to the Tukwila Municipal Code. In addition to the Ordinance, the City has adopted the Tukwila Labor Standards, which are rules and procedures to implement the Ordinance.
Main Requirements
The Ordinance and Tukwila Labor Standards include five main requirements for affected employers:
- Minimum Wage: If applicable, pay Tukwila’s minimum wage to certain employees. This requirement started on July 1, 2023.
- Additional Hours: If applicable, provide fair access to qualified, part-time employees to additional hours of work before hiring additional employees, subcontractors, and temporary agencies.
- Notification: Provide notification to employees by distributing the Notice of Tukwila Labor Standards to specified employees and by displaying the Tukwila Labor Standards poster in the workplace.
- Records: Retain records to confirm compliance with the Ordinance and allow the City to inspect the records.
- Certification: Certify compliance with the Ordinance by January 31st for the previous calendar year.
Minimum Wage
Affected employers are required to pay employees (as defined in TMC Chapter 5.63) not less than the minimum hourly wage of:
| Affected Employers | 2023 Minimum Wage | 2024 Minimum Wage | |
| Effective 1/1/24 | Effective 7/1/24 | ||
| Large Employer | $18.99 | $20.29 | $20.29 |
| Mid-Size Employer | $16.99 | $18.29 | $19.29 |
| On January 1, 2024, and on every January 1 thereafter, the minimum wage will be adjusted for inflation. By October 15, the City will post the minimum wage for the upcoming year. | |||
The minimum wage requirements apply to affected employers and are phased in by size.
| Affected Employers | |
| Large | More than 500 employees worldwide and certain franchisees as defined in TMC 5.63. |
| Mid-Size | At least 15 but no more than 500 employees worldwide, or over $2 million of annual gross revenue in Tukwila. |
| Note: Employers who have fewer than 15 employees worldwide and earn $2 million or less of annual gross revenue in Tukwila and are not associated with a franchisor or network of franchisees that employ more than 500 employees in aggregate are not affected by TMC 5.63 but may still be subject to State minimum wage and other laws. | |
Phasing Minimum Wage for Mid-Sized Employers
Effective July 1, 2023, the minimum hourly wage applicable to midsize employers is $2 per hour less than that of large employers.
From January 1, 2024, through June 30, 2024, the minimum hourly wage for midsize employers will be $2 per hour less than the inflation-adjusted rate applicable to large employers for 2024.
Effective July 1, 2024, through December 31, 2024, the minimum wage hourly wage for midsize employers will be $1 per hour less than the inflation-adjusted rate applicable to large employers for 2024.
From January 1, 2025, through June 30, 2025, the minimum hourly wage for midsize employers will be $1 per hour less than the inflation-adjusted rate applicable to large employers for 2025.
Effective July 1, 2025, the minimum wage hourly wage for midsize employers will be the same rate applicable to large employers.
Fair Access to Additional Hours of Work
Certain affected employers must offer additional hours of work to qualified, part-time employees before hiring new employees or subcontractors (including temporary agencies).
Enforcement and Penalties for Non-Compliance
Persons alleging a violation of TMC 5.63, including retaliatory conduct, may bring a civil action against the employer or other person violating the ordinance. Additionally, the City of Tukwila’s Finance Director may deny, suspend, or revoke any license for violations of TMC 5.63. Additional penalties may apply.
Rulemaking
The initiative required the City to adopt rules and procedures to implement and ensure compliance with TMC 5.63 by May 28, 2023. The draft rules were published on this website on March 14, 2023 and the City began accepting comments on the draft rules. The City hosted information sessions on March 22, 2023 and April 20, 2023. The adopted rules were posted on the webpage on May 25, 2023.
Schedule
The following is a schedule to help employers comply with the requirements.
| Date | Event |
| June 30, 2023 | Deadline for affected employers to distribute the new Tukwila Labor Standards Notice to Employees. |
| July 1, 2023 | Tukwila’s 2023 minimum wage took effect. |
| October 15, 2023 | City of Tukwila posted the 2024 minimum wage on the City’s website. |
| December 2, 2023 | Deadline for affected employers to distribute the 2024 Tukwila Labor Standards Notice to Employees. |
| January 1, 2024 | Tukwila’s 2024 minimum wage goes into effect. |
| January 31, 2024 | Deadline to submit 2023 Compliance Certificate to City. |
| July 1, 2024 | Minimum wage for midsize employers increases to $1 below the rate for large employers. |
| October 15, 2024 | City of Tukwila will post the 2025 minimum wage on the City’s website. |
| December 2, 2024 | Deadline for affected employers to distribute the 2025 Tukwila Labor Standards Notice to Employees. |
| January 1, 2025 | Tukwila’s 2025 minimum wage goes into effect. |
| July 1, 2025 | Minimum wage for midsize employers increases to equal the rate for large employers. |
Documents
The following documents are available to assist employers:
TMC 5.63 and TMC 5.04.113
Tukwila Labor Standards: Administrative Rule 2023 – 1
| 2023
Notification to Employees · English · Somali · Spanish Tukwila Labor Standards Poster · English · Somali · Spanish
|
2024
Notification to Employees · English · Somali · Spanish
Tukwila Labor Standards Poster · English · Somali · Spanish
|
Questions
For additional information, please refer to the complete text of Tukwila Municipal Code Chapter 5.63 and 5.04.113 and the Tukwila Labor Standards. You can also submit questions via email to MinimumWage@TukwilaWa.Gov.
Information Session
The City hosted an online information session on Tuesday, June 20, 2023 at 3:00 p.m.
6/20/23 Information Session Presentation
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