The article focuses on the minimum wages debate and policy developments in Australia, Great Britain and the United States. In the last few years, the economic effects of minimum wages have been a very controversial topic. The research of leading economists D. Card and A.B. Krueger which led to suggest that rather than causing a reduction in employment, there is some evidence from the fast-food industry in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, that an increase in minimum wages may even cause a small increase in employment. In the United States, minimum wages were increased by the Bill Clinton administration, with the evidence of Card and Krueger being quoted as evidence in support of the move. In Britain the Tony Blair Government has been elected on a mandate that includes the reintroduction of a minimum wage. While there is some discussion of other effects of minimum wages, for example on income distribution, the main theme in the Policy Forum is the effect of minimum wages on employment.