[NFBofSC] Bill to ban subminimum wage for people with disabilities nears finish line

[Steve Cook]

Bill to ban subminimum wage for people with disabilities nears finish line

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, 1,200 people with disabilities
working in South Carolina are being paid less than the federal hourly
minimum wage.

 

Author: Becky Budds

Published: 5:20 PM EDT May 5, 2022

Updated: 6:50 PM EDT May 5, 2022

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COLUMBIA, S.C. - Under federal law, people with disabilities can be paid
below minimum wage if they work for certain agencies. Though a joint
resolution in the General Assembly aiming to ban the practice South Carolina
could soon become law.

 

The joint resolution sponsored by Sen. Katrina Shealy (R-Lexington) ensures
workers with disabilities earn a fair wage 

 

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, more than a thousand people with
disabilities working in South Carolina are being paid less than the federal
hourly minimum wage.

 

Angela Green was once one of those workers, bringing home $60 to $20 a week
for various jobs. 

 

"It made me feel devalued like I wasn't valuable and um it made me feel like
I wasn't accomplishing anything," said Greene. 

 

Right now, employers can apply for a waiver that allows them to pay certain
employees below $7.25 an hour based on the assumption someone's disability
impacts their ability to perform on the job. 

 

"Some are making $1.25 an hour, some are making less than $1 and pennies an
hour," said President and CEO of Able South Carolina Kimberly Tissot. 

 

Tissot has been working for 10 years to create legislation that would end
this practice. 

 

"Subminimum wage has been a very painful topic for the disability community
for so many years," said Tissot. "Because when you're paying less than what
everybody else makes, because of who you are, as a person with disabilities,
it impacts your whole self, as well as the the entire disability community."

 

"We're just thrilled to see this, to see this move forward," said Tissot.
"In my eyes, it's lasted 80 plus years too long."

 

The bill would also establish a task force responsible for coming up with a
plan that benefits employers and employees to phase out the practice of
subminimum wage. 

 

"We're also going to strengthen state agencies to be inclusive with their
hiring practices, and hiring people with disabilities as well as the general
public," said Tissot.

 

After years of advocating for fair wages, Green is excited lawmakers are
making a change. 

 

 

"They see us as value and see us not for our disability, but see us as
people," said Greene. 

 

If the bill is signed into law this year, it would take effect in August
2024.

 

The bill has one final vote in the Senate before heading to the Governor's
desk.

 

To view the story, click on the below link and find the play button. 

 

https://www.wltx.com/article/news/politics/subminimum-wage-bill-nears-finish
-line/101-b65b47e2-f00d-4142-9d87-b20a1b622b63

 

 

Steve Cook

District 2 State Board Member of the National Federation of the Blind of SC

President of the Computer Science & Technology Division of the National
Federation of the Blind of SC

1st Vice President of the Columbia chapter of the National Federation of the
Blind of SC

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