New York, July 23 (RHC)-- In a major victory for low-wage workers, New York state has cleared the way to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour for the state’s 200,000 fast-food workers.

A special wage board recommended the hike Wednesday, which is expected to be approved by the state’s labor commissioner. The wage hike will be phased in by 2018 in New York City and by 2021 across the state.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo praised the recommendation, saying to other U.S. states: "If New York can do it, why can't you do it?"

The move comes three years after fast-food workers in New York City launched the Fight for 15 campaign, which quickly spread across the country.