Andrade Backs Bill to Combat Wage Discrimination

CHICAGO – State Rep. Jaime Andrade, D-Chicago, is supporting legislation to combat the pay gap, ensuring equal pay for equal work.

“It is outrageous that in 2019, pay disparities due to gender and race continue to persist,” Andrade said. “By paying women and minorities less, we are sending a message they are not as worthy or deserving of fair wages as their equally qualified colleagues. That is wrong.”

Andrade is co-sponsoring House Bill 834, which prohibits employers from asking job applicants about their salary history. The effort seeks to address the issue of wage discrimination, which has historically hurt the earning power of women and minorities, even when they have comparable skills and experience to their counterparts. As women and minorities often earn lower wages than their white and/or male counterparts, inquiries into their salary history when applying for a new job will likely lock them into continued lower pay.

Recently, Gov. Pritzker signed an executive order requiring Illinois’ Central Management Services to implement pay equity provisions for state employees. The measure does not cover local governments or private employers. House Bill 834 seeks to apply this practice to local governments and the private sector.

“We must live up to our values of equality and fairness by providing equal pay for equal work,” Andrade said. “People deserve to be paid fairly for their equal labor and equal contributions to our communities. By improving wages for the disadvantaged, we will strengthen the financial security of families and grow our local economies.”