Florida voters can have the chance to raise the state's hourly minimum wage to $15 by 2026 through a proposal that is also on the ballot.

If approved, the state of Florida would become the eighth state in the United States to set its minimum wage pay at $15 an hour based on the National Conference of State Legislatures' data.

The federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour has not moved since 2009, which is the longest period without an increase since it was passed in 1938. It was part of the landmark Fair Labor Standards Act.

Amendment 2 in Florida would boost the state's current minimum of $8.56 an hour to $10 in September of 2021, according to a CBS News report. That would then increase by a dollar per year through 2026. 

In 2027, the yearly increases would be based on consumer prices. Sixty-one-year-old worker, Joseph Gourgue, would be one who would benefit if Florida passes the proposal.

Gourgue is working as a wheelchair attendant at Orlando International Airport, earning $9 an hour. He said the pay hike would help his family, and he could save up some money.

"I want to be able to help out my grandkids before I go," Gourgue noted in a report.

The Florida Policy Institute said around 2.5 million workers would benefit once the proposal is approved. That is a quarter of the state's workforce. 

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However, business groups oppose the said proposal, saying it would hurt employers in Florida, whose economy has been massively affected by the pandemic.

The Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association claimed the measure would create around 158,000 job losses across the state. Meanwhile, the Florida Chamber of Commerce said the job losses could hit as high as 500,000.

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Economic studies said otherwise, citing that pay hikes would not reduce employment.

In its recent paper, an Orlando-based public policy research group said the minimum wage increase would bring people to a living wage. Struggling working families would be brought closer to a sustainable income, added the group.

Around 63 percent of registered voters said they supported the measure in late October, a reduction from 67 percent a month earlier. This was according to a poll done by Monmouth University.

President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential bet Joe Biden have debated about livable wages. 

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Both candidates have a different perspective on raising incomes. When asked about raising the federal minimum wage, Trump said he would consider it.

But he noted that he prefers the states to dictate the increases. The president added that a strong economy would raise wages and would not hurt small-business owners.

On the other hand, Biden vowed on raising the federal minimum wage to $15 by 2026, which is the amount being demanded by the movement #FightFor15.

The movement started in New York City back in 2012 when over 200 fast-food workers walked out on the job to protest a higher pay, as reported by Cheddar.

Critics again cited job losses, a drop in work hours, and higher prices for consumers. However, a study by the House Committee on Education and the Workforce argued that a higher pay would boost consumers' spending power and generate more jobs.