small business has it tough
*This doesn't even count the massive amount of mandated paperwork, insurance, workman's comp, and all the other government crap that you have to deal with to bring an employee on board. You should talk to some small businessmen around here. My mechanic had to lay off two people because the workman's comp was killing him.
I've heard a lot about this here too, over the years. The situation seems to be small business being squeezed by the overheads and bureacratic demands. It's not easy for them ..
As to whether a decent minimum wage is or isn't a 'economic right' - that seems to come down to one's personal ideology and values, as far as I can tell. I guess (oh, just for instance) a gung-ho free marketeer would never agree to the concept.