DeLauro Hails Rule Ensuring Pay Transparency for Federal Contractors

Paycheck Fairness Act Author Urged Administration to Take This Step

WASHINGTON, DC—Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) today applauded the final rule issued by the Department of Labor prohibiting federal contractors from discriminating or retaliating against employees who share information about their compensation. In January 2014, DeLauro led a letter signed by 56 Democratic congresswoman asking President Obama to take this step. That letter can be read here.

“A key part of ending what President Kennedy called the ‘serious and endemic’ problem of unequal wages is having the knowledge that you are being paid less in the first place. Just ask Lilly Ledbetter, who only found out she was being paid less because of an anonymous note. In order to detect and combat pay discrimination, employees must be able to share salary information with their coworkers without fear of punishment. I constantly hear from women across the country that unequal pay continues to happen and is hard to uncover.

“This is not just about women; it is about ensuring families, who are more reliant on women’s wages than ever, are not being shortchanged. I am pleased the Labor Department is finally dealing with this injustice head-on. Congress needs to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act so that all Americans will be able to share their salary information without fear of losing their job.”

The Paycheck Fairness Act, which DeLauro has introduced every congress since 1997, would end pay secrecy at all businesses.


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