>Raising the minimum wages tends to encourage employers to reduce staff and overwork
>those remaining to compensate for the government intrusion into their business.

That's what they always say, but when applied across the board (as by a law, not by a ruling that one shop has to endure the cost) it actually redistributes money to those who don't keep it in their pockets for long. IOW, distribution upwards slows down the economy by moving money out of reach of consumers; distribution downwards boosts sales.

Practical proof that you may remember: GW2B's economic stimulus checks didn't go to millionaires.