Arizona's minimum wage increases to $10 an hour on Sunday which the Arizona Supreme Court has already denied a request to put it on hold.

In a one-sentence statement written by Justice Clint Bolick, the court has rejected the push for a delay on the increase, a nearly 25 percent jump from the current $8.05. But it indicated the contentious matter was not over. It will decide whether to take up the underlying issue of the measure's constitutionality "in due course."

Business groups, Republican legislative leaders and Gov. Doug Ducey's office had sought the stay after Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Daniel Kiley has rejected a challenge to the law's constitutionality last week.

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The current minimum wage was $8.05 an hour. Proposition 206, approved by 58 percent of voters last month, raised it to $10 as of Sunday.

The ballot measure has called for the minimum wage to continue increasing in 50-cent increments to $12 by 2020. Along with that, it requires employers to provide paid sick leave.

Supporters of Prop. 206 had hailed the ruling and said that it will benefit thousands of low-wage workers.

Tomas Robles, who led the campaign for Prop. 206 said, “Nobody should have to work full time and still be in poverty”. He said that about 800,000 Arizona workers will be benefited from the pay hike, and another 937,000 will get paid sick leave.

He chided the state leaders who had taken the issue to court, saying that they have been ignoring the will of the voters and are more interested to ensue corporate profits than in improving employee pay.

By Prakriti Neogi