Since 1938, U.S. labor law has carved out a rule for some people with disabilities, saying they can be paid less than minimum wage. Its purpose was to encourage employers to hire the disabled. But like so many good intentions, it has had unintended consequences. In this case it is the exploitation of disabled people.
The carve-out was meant to help people with severe disabilities find meaningful work, but it has left many trapped in jobs with slave wages, some earning as little as $1 or even pennies per hour. This waiver program for workers with disabilities is sometimes horribly misused.
Because of the potential for abuse, some in Congress are calling for a change. A minimum wage of $5 an hour for people with disabilities was proposed in the Raise The Wage Act of 2023. This act also calls for an increase in the standard federal minimum wage and an increase in wages for tipped employees and for teenagers.
This bill is languishing in the Senate Committee on Health, Education and Labor. Govtrack.us gives it a 2% chance of being enacted.
How should we feel about lawmakers who give themselves a raise but not us? Should we vote them out?
Sandy Kremer
Youngwood