Rep. D’Amico Continues Work to Reduce Wage Gap

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – In an effort to reduce the gender wage-gap, state Rep. John D’Amico, D-Chicago, is sponsoring legislation that aims to end pay discrimination against women.

“I believe in equal pay for equal work, men and women who are performing similar jobs with similar experience should be compensated equally for their work,” D’Amico said. “If businesses are discriminating based on the gender of their employees they should be held accountable.”

D’Amico is sponsoring House Bill 2462, which prohibits employers from paying different salaries to employees who do the same job and have the same experience. The Census Bureau, which tracks annual wages, found women who worked full-time, year-round in 2016 made 79 cents for every dollar men earned across the country. This comparison includes all male and female workers regardless of occupation.

D’Amico’s measure also makes it illegal for an employer to require potential employees to reveal their past wage or salary during the job application process. The goal of his legislation is to address the fact that women and minorities have historically been paid less. Massachusetts recently enacted similar legislation.

“I believe in equal pay for equal work,” D’Amico said. “This proposal not only serves to reduce discrimination, but it will also help grow our economy, as it will help to raise the wages of countless women throughout the state and put more dollars into the pockets of consumers.”