“If finalized, the department believes this proposal would increase wages, improving the economic self-sufficiency of these workers,” the DOL said. “Along with the broader shifts in opportunities for workers with disabilities, this proposal could lead to an increase in the overall labor force participation rate for persons with disabilities.”
The rule marks the strongest federal action yet to end the practice of subminimum wages for disabled workers, which has existed under Section 14(c) since the 1930s. As the Biden administration pushes forward, the proposal is expected to face a notice and comment period, typically lasting 30 to 60 days, before it is finalized.
Bipartisan Support for Ending Subminimum Wages
The push to eliminate Section 14(c) has been ongoing for years, with strong support from both Democratic and Republican lawmakers. While the Democratic-led Raise the Wage Act and the Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act remain pending, they both seek to address the issue of subminimum wages for disabled workers. The Democratic Party’s platforms in both 2020 and 2024 included a commitment to ending the practice.
