DeLauro Praises New Department Of Labor Guidance On Sex Discrimination

Statement

Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) today released the following statement regarding a new rule from the U.S. Department of Labor that will comprehensively update its Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs' sex discrimination guidelines for federal contractors for the first time since 1970. The guidelines align with current law to ensure that workers are protected against pay discrimination, sexual harassment, pregnancy, and other forms of sex discrimination.

"Today, more women than ever are working in the American economy and nearly 40 percent of mothers are acting as the sole or primary breadwinner for their families. Despite these numbers, not much has changed in workplace protections over the last forty years. The Labor Department's final rule updating its sex discrimination guidelines is a much-needed step in modernizing and clarifying workplace protections and I welcome these changes.

"No worker should ever be discriminated against because of pregnancy or childbirth, gender identity or transgender status, the need to take care of a family member, or simply because he or she does not meet what a manager may consider stereotypical gender norms. In 2016, it is long past time that we address these issues.

"While the rule clarifies a number of issues including fair pay and compensation discrimination for federal contractors, we must go further. Congress should immediately pass the Paycheck Fairness Act to hold all employers accountable for wage discrimination, put an end to pay secrecy, make it easier for workers to challenge pay discrimination, and give workers more options to recover lost wages. Equal pay for equal work should not just be an ideal we strive for, but a reality."

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