Jan 29, 2021
Statement from NOD Chairman Gov. Tom Ridge on President’s Biden Proposal to End Sub-Minimum Wages for People with Disabilities
As Disability Scoop reports, “Under a law dating back to 1938, employers are able to receive special 14(c) certificates from the U.S. Department of Labor allowing them to pay individuals with disabilities less than the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour.”
Many disability advocacy organizations, including the National Organization on Disability, who have been pushing for years to end the outdated practice, were encourage by President Biden’s proposed American Rescue Plan, which calls for eliminating subminimum wages for people with disabilities in addition to increasing the minimum wage and ensuring the disability community is not exempt from receiving stimulus payments.
NOD’s Chairman, Gov. Tom Ridge, released the following statement in response to Biden’s proposal:
“There is no excuse for treating an entire class of American workers differently from others based solely on the characteristic of disability. President Biden understands this. He sends a powerful message that all Americans, including those with disabilities, must have a chance to have the financial freedom and security we all desire.
The National Organization on Disability has joined together with many of the largest and most effective disability organizations in America today, in opposing subminimum wages for workers with disabilities. We applaud President Biden for his commitment to eliminating the subminimum wage and we look forward to working with Republicans and Democrats in Congress to get it done. It is long past time to take this fair, commonsense step in the march to freedom for Americans with disabilities.”