Minimum wage is a red herring. Everything other than unionization is a red herring. Countries with strong labor don't even need a minimum wage. Think about a place you consider to have strong workers rights. You might think of northern European countries like Germany, Denmark, Switzerland, etc. Many are surprised to learn that these countries don't (or didn't until recently) have a minimum wage. In many ways, requiring a minimum wage is a sign that your labor pool doesn't have enough leverage at the bargaining table. Without bargaining power, management is always going to find a way to screw you.