The U.S. Department of Labor is seeking input from stakeholders as part of a review of the Section 14(c) program. (Chuck Myers/TNS)
With big changes under consideration, federal officials want to hear from workers with disabilities about their experiences with a program that allows employers to pay them less than minimum wage.
The U.S. Department of Labor is launching a “series of stakeholder engagement sessions” as it embarks on a “comprehensive review” of what is known as the Section 14(c) program.
The program, authorized under a law dating to the 1930s, allows companies to receive special 14(c) certificates from the Department of Labor that allows them to pay workers with disabilities less than the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour.
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Federal officials have been under pressure in recent years to eliminate the subminimum wage employment model, which can leave workers with disabilities earning as little as a few cents an hour.
Late last month, the agency indicated it would begin a review of the program, a move requested by disability advocates, the Government Accountability Office, the National Council on Disability, the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights and the Department of Labor Advisory Committee to Increase Competitiveness. Integrated Employment, among others, according to Taryn M. Williams, assistant secretary of labor for disability employment policy.
The Labor Department has not detailed exactly what the review will entail, how long it will take or what the outcome could be, but with the first listening session scheduled for this week, the agency is signaling that work is underway.
“During the session, we welcome your input on important areas of focus for the review of the 14(c) program, experiences with competitive integrated employment (CIE) options, lessons from states that have expanded CIE and/or have banned substandard wages. minimum, impacts of potentially ceasing to issue 14(c) certificates in the future, and any related issues,” the Department of Labor said. “The department is interested in hearing the experiences of workers with disabilities, so we encourage worker advocates to include these examples in their comments or invite workers with disabilities to share their stories directly.”
The first stakeholder engagement session will be held virtually this Thursday from 5:30 to 7 p.m. ET and is open to the public, but record required no later than Wednesday.
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