WASHINGTON – The issue of income equality has been talked about a lot lately, with workers demanding a higher minimum wage and federal, state and local governments discussing whether to increase the minimum wage. The National Restaurant Association and the National Retail Federation have launched the Path Forward coalition to address what should be done to help both businesses and their workers. In an opinion piece in The Hill, Dawn Sweeney of NRA and Matthew Shay of NRF outlined their strategy:

“We need policies that empower businesses of all sizes and provide real, tangible skills, training and career paths for workers. Unfortunately, many of the policy proposals on the table, like hiking the minimum wage, will put entry-level jobs and the start they provide for so many in jeopardy,” they wrote.

The current debate on the minimum wage neglects to address “the value service industry jobs provide to workers. Critics have demonized service jobs and the opportunities they create as not being ‘good jobs.’ ‘Good jobs’ give young workers a place to start—often their first experience in the workplace—exposing them to valuable, lifelong skills,” the op-ed continued.

The convenience store industry offers similar “good jobs,” as do restaurants and retailers, who “invest in these benefits and provide an entrance into the workforce for tens of thousands of Americans each year. For many, this is the first rung on the ladder—one that is within reach and provides an opportunity to learn and grow.”

Sweeney and Shay point to training programs that teach workers the skills needed for the current job—and for the next job, too. “We all win when we incentivize businesses to invest in career-training programs for their employees—not force them to cut their payrolls.”