Minimum Wage Executive Order Includes Individuals with Disabilities

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Feb. 14, 2014 - PRLog -- This week, the White House announced that President Obama will sign an Executive Order raising the minimum wage to $10.10 for all federal contract workers, including workers with disabilities.  Recent statements by the Administration had suggested that workers with disabilities employed by government contractors would not be covered by the new minimum wage.

Carol Fried, The Arc Maryland’s President remarked:  “The President’s Executive Order is a role model on employment and fair wages for individuals with disabilities.  We applaud the Administration for this move and we hope that the State of Maryland will follow his lead.”

The Arc Maryland, the State’s largest grassroots advocacy organization advocates for change through legislation, policy and practice to protect the rights of persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities to just and favorable conditions of work, including equal opportunities and equal remuneration for work of equal value.  It’s time that legislators and the State of Maryland begin to address the issue of sub-minimum wage.

The Arc Maryland recently issued a press announcement related to sub-minimum wage calling for the State to establish a work group to create a plan to phase out antiquated employment practices for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  These plans are related to “sub-minimum wage” –far lower than youth wages and tipped wages.  These are legal practices under 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act.  This law dates back to 1938 and allows for workers with disabilities to be paid as little as pennies per hour.

The Arc Maryland’s sub-minimum wage press release:  http://www.prlog.org/12278468-minimum-wage-debate-disprop... (../12278468-minimum-wage-debate-disproportionately-impact...)

About The Arc Maryland:

The Arc Maryland is a grassroots advocacy organization dedicated to creating a world where children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities have and enjoy equal rights and opportunities.  For more information, visit The Arc Maryland website at www.thearcmd.org.