Sub-minimum wage work to be phased out for disabled Delawareans

DELAWARE -The Delaware General Assembly passed House Bill 122 in June 2021, with the goal of guaranteeing fair and equal employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Known as the Jamie Wolfe Employment Act – in tribute to the tireless advocate for disability rights in Delaware who died in 2018 – the bill mandated a phased elimination of subminimum wage employment by January 2024.

As part of the phase-out plan for low-wage positions, known as 14(C), a series of public forums where families will have the opportunity to review and comment will be held, beginning Tuesday, July 11, 2023.

Representative and Bill-Cosponsor Debra Heffernan says it’s important this process is done in combination with the disabled community and ends the practice that she says was nothing short of exploitation.

“The person with the disability did not really benefit, it was only the company that was asking for that activity to be finished,” Rep. Heffernan said.

A 2020 report found that the average employee working under the exemption earned just $3.34 an hour and worked 16 hours per week.
usually in tasks such as packing, organization, and basic assembly.