Press Release
☷FACT SHEET On Equal Pay Day the Biden Harris Administration Announces Actions to Continue Advancing Pay Equity and Women s Economic Security
White House ( By Press Release office)
Mar 14,2024
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Today is Equal Pay Day , a day to recognize the progress we ' ve made in closing the gender pay gap , but also acknowledge the work that still needs to be done . The Biden - Harris Administration has made strides in creating a strong economy and increasing women ' s labor force participation . However , there is still a significant pay disparity between men and women , especially for women of color . President Biden and Vice President Harris are committed to addressing these wage gaps and ensuring equal opportunities for all workers . They have announced new initiatives to promote access to well - paying jobs , understand pay inequities , and tackle occupational segregation . These efforts aim to strengthen the economy and provide women with greater economic security . Today ' s announcements are a result of recent actions taken by the Biden - Harris Administration to promote fairness and transparency in pay . On Equal Pay Day 2022 , the President issued an Executive Order to eliminate discriminatory pay practices in the Federal government and Federal contracting workforces . In January 2024 , the Administration followed through on that promise by taking steps to advance pay equity for Federal workers . The Office of Personnel Management ( OPM ) published a final rule that ensures Federal agencies no longer consider an individual ' s non - Federal pay when determining salaries for Federal employees . This change aims to address pay discrimination that can persist from job to job . Additionally , the Administration is working on promoting pay equity and transparency in Federal contracting . The Federal Acquisition Regulatory ( FAR ) Council has proposed prohibiting Federal contractors from seeking and considering information about job applicants ' compensation history . They would also require Federal contractors to disclose expected salary ranges in job postings , which has been shown to reduce pay inequities . These measures aim to help Federal contractors recruit , diversify , and retain talent , while improving job satisfaction and performance . The Department of Labor ' s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs ( OFCCP ) has also issued new guidance to clarify protections against discrimination in hiring and pay decisions for Federal contractors . These efforts build upon previous actions taken by the Biden - Harris Administration to address gender and racial wage gaps and enhance women ' s economic security . Their investments in various initiatives have created numerous well - paying jobs in industries of the future . The Administration has taken steps to make sure more people , including women , people of color , and members of other communities that are underrepresented , have equal opportunities in these growing industries . These steps include launching the Good Jobs Initiative , which provides important information to workers , employers , and government agencies to improve job quality , empower workers , and ensure that workers , especially those from underserved communities , can access good union jobs without discrimination or harassment . The Initiative is dedicated to advancing the Departments of Labor and Commerce’s Good Jobs Principles , which focus on recruitment and hiring , diversity , equity , inclusion , accessibility , and pay . Key agencies have partnered with DOL to support the Good Jobs Initiative , promote fair workforce development , and ensure workers have what they need to contribute to the President’s Investing in America agenda . There are also efforts to increase access to well - paying construction jobs , with the Department of Commerce launching the Million Women in Construction initiative and the Mega Construction Project ( Megaproject ) Program . These initiatives aim to remove barriers to hiring and encourage a diverse pool of qualified workers , including women , people of color , veterans , and people with disabilities . Additionally , there are efforts to improve access to child care for workers in the semiconductor industry through the implementation of the CHIPS and Science Act . The Department of Commerce has made it a requirement for applicants seeking significant funding to provide accessible , affordable , high - quality child care . The Administration is also focused on making child care more affordable and supporting caregivers , recognizing that affordable and high - quality care is crucial for parents , particularly mothers , to fully participate in the workforce . The ARP Child Care Stabilization program has provided historic support to child care programs across the country , with over 90% of the programs that received assistance being women - owned . The Council of Economic Advisors found that funding to stabilize the economy helped families with young children save money , increased wages for child care workers , and enabled many women with young children to enter or re - enter the workforce . President Biden also signed an Executive Order in April 2023 to improve access to affordable , high - quality care and enhance job quality for early educators and long - term care workers , especially women of color . This included measures such as strengthening the CCDBG program and increasing the minimum wage for Federal employees and contractors to $15 per hour . The Administration has also supported women - owned businesses through increased Small Business Administration loans and investments in the Women Business Centers network . The ARP Restaurant Revitalization Fund was able to help out more than 40 , 000 women - owned restaurants and bars , thanks to some actions taken by the Administration to make sure these businesses could get the help they needed .
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