[NFBF-L] FW: [blindLaw] Labor Department Urged To Curtail Subminimum Wage Program - Disability Scoop - May 15, 2023

[Camille Tate]

I thought some of you might find this interesting, given all the work we
have done as an organization to end the 14C Certification program.

 Sincerely, 
Camille Tate 
2nd Vice President, National Federation of the Blind of Florida 
President, Melbourne Space Coast Chapter, National Federation of the Blind
of Florida 
Phone: 321 372 4899 

-----Original Message-----
From: BlindLaw <blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Nightingale, Noel
via BlindLaw
Sent: Tuesday, May 16, 2023 3:40 PM
To: blindlaw at nfbnet.org
Cc: Nightingale, Noel <Noel.Nightingale at ed.gov>
Subject: [blindLaw] Labor Department Urged To Curtail Subminimum Wage
Program - Disability Scoop - May 15, 2023


https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2023/05/15/labor-department-urged-to-curtail
-subminimum-wage-program/30382/
Labor Department Urged To Curtail Subminimum Wage Program By Michelle
Diament Disability Scoop May 15, 2023

Disability advocacy groups are calling on the federal government to stop
issuing any new certificates authorizing employers to pay people with
disabilities less than minimum wage.
Under a law dating back to the 1930s, employers can obtain special
certificates from the U.S. Department of Labor allowing them to pay workers
with disabilities less than the federal minimum of $7.25 per hour. As a
result, some individuals earn just pennies per hour.
In a letter to acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su this month, a dozen
disability organizations say the time is now for a moratorium on the
so-called Section 14(c) certificates. They cite a recent Government
Accountability Office report showing that the number of workers with
disabilities nationally earning subminimum wage dropped from 296,000 to
122,000 between 2010 and 2019 and they indicate that data since that time
shows a continued slide.
"These facts signify that this program is on the decline and, given that
reality, we can find no compelling reason for DOL to continue to issue new
certificates," reads the letter from the National Down Syndrome Congress,
the National Disability Rights Network, the Autism Society of America, the
Autistic Self Advocacy Network and others who are part of a coalition called
the Collaboration to Promote Self-Determination. "We believe the end of the
14(c) program is on the horizon and implementing a moratorium on new
certificates is a concrete step DOL can take without the need for
congressional action to further the goal of economic self-sufficiency as
established by the (Americans with Disabilities Act) and prevent further
harm to individuals with disabilities in the waning days of this program."
There has been a push in recent years toward competitive integrated
employment and away from paying what's known as submimimum wage. A 2014
federal law imposed strict limits on the arrangement and the advocates note
in their letter that 14 states have already passed legislation to ban the
practice of paying those with disabilities less than minimum wage.
A bipartisan bill proposed in Congress called the Transformation to
Competitive Integrated Employment Act would phase out subminimum wage across
the country.
Edwin Nieves, a spokesperson for the Labor Department, indicated that the
agency received the advocates' letter and will respond, but declined to
comment further.


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