The Reagan Administration may relax its opposition to an increase in the minimum wage if it agrees to raise the rate significantly . Labor Secretary Brock says it must exempt youths from entry - level job training and drop plans for future raises . Brock said that a number of people are not only unemployed but unemployable and that raising the wage would add to the problem . Rep Hawkins said that if Brock put his ideas into a bill it would be given a hearing . "I don't want to take a chance that we add to that problem" by boosting the minimum wage and thereby pricing young people out of the job market. But , he said , it 's too early to talk compromise . An aide to a Republican Senator said that many people feel that an increase in the wage is inevitable .
The Reagan Administration may relax its opposition to an increase in the minimum wage if it agrees to raise the rate significantly . Labor Secretary Brock says it must exempt youths from entry - level job training and drop plans for future raises . Brock said that a number of people are not only unemployed but unemployable and that raising the wage would add to the problem . Rep Hawkins said that if Brock put his ideas into a bill it would be given a hearing . But , he said , it 's too early to talk compromise . An aide to a Republican Senator said that many people feel that an increase in the wage is inevitable .