Advocacy Matters: National Dialogue on Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act

Disability Matters Radio Show with Joyce Bender

June 18, 2019

#AdvocacyMatters Segment

National Dialogue on Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act

The Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) at the U.S. Department of Labor launched a national online dialogue to capture the public information about Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act.

The federal Office of Disability Employment Policy wants to hear from individuals with disabilities, family members, providers, disability organizations, employers, researchers, and other stakeholders who have experience with Section 14(c) and to share our ideas for the future. The deadline for the comment period has been extended to Friday, June 21, 2019.

A summary of the comments will be provided to ODEP.

Public comment is categorized in 3 areas:

– The experiences transitioning from the use of 14(c) certificates,

– The use of 14(c) certificates and observed trends,

– Vision for the future of work and workplaces over the next 5 to ten years.

We can comment on one or all three areas.

Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act allows some workers with a disability to be paid a subminimum wage based on a law that was passed in the last century.

In 1938, President Franklin Roosevelt, who acted to put a stop to child and adult worker exploitation and to set standards for worker’s rights, worked with Congress to pass the Fair Labor Standards Act.

The Fair Labor Standards Act is still law today.

The process to participate in the national dialogue is complicated. We have go to a website created by ideascale. Create a username and password. Receive an email. Confirm our email address. Then navigate the webpage to comment on one or more of the topics. The alternative is to make a call to the Office of Disability Employment Policy at 202-693-7880 to share your comment.

#AdvocacyMatters and it is time for the practice of paying people with disabilities subminimum wages to end. This archaic statute creates and reinforces a life of poverty and dependency on public support.

Visit www.disabilityrightsp.org to view all the materials related to the national online dialogue on the 14(c) subminimum wage.

 

ACTION ALERT: We have until June 21st to speak up for equal pay

 

ACTION ALERT: Comment Today to Support Equal Pay for People with Disabilities!