Harper Sponsors Legislation to Reduce Wage-Gap

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – In an effort to end practices of pay and wage discrimination, state Rep. Sonya Harper, D-Chicago, is sponsoring legislation to end pay discrepancies between men and women in Illinois..

“Women still only earn 79 cents on the dollar to their male colleagues, and that is unacceptable,” said Harper. “To make matters worse, women of color face grimmer circumstances. African-American women on average earn 63 cents on the dollar, and Latina women make 54 cents on the dollar compared to their male colleagues. This needs to end.”

Harper is sponsoring House Resolution 124, designating April 4, 2017 as Pay Equity Day in Illinois. This measure highlights how long women have to work in a new year in order to earn the same pay their male counterparts received in the previous year. She is also sponsoring House Bill 2462, which strengthens state law requiring employers to pay women the same as equally qualified men doing the same job. Harper’s legislation prohibits employers from asking job applicants about their previous wages, a practice that can lock women in to lower pay for their entire careers. Her measure also bars companies from requiring employees to sign contracts that would prevent them from discussing their salary.

“Pay discrepancies should not be a continuing practice. Women are not second class citizens, and it is time we are not viewed as such when we perform the same work as men,” said Harper. “Equal pay for women is a significant issue for many of the families in my district. Many people are struggling just to get by, and if we can adopt policies that reflect the needs of everyone then Illinois would be a much better state to live and do business in.”