The State Department of Labor and Industry reminds Pennsylvania employers a federal law goes into effect nationwide today raising the minimum hourly wage to $4.25.

The increase will affect an estimated 299,000 Pennsylvanians who are currently earning less than that hourly wage.

The minimum wage was last increased on April 1 1990, to $3.80.

Under state law passed in 1988, Pennsylvania’s minimum wage is adjusted to match the federal standard each time it changes, although by state law, employers may pay a “learner wage” of not less than 85 percent of the regular wage for eight weeks to workers who are in training.