Department of Labor 14c Certificates and how Issuing Them Causes Discrimination

 

Currently, if non profits choose to, they can be granted a special certificate from the department that allows them to pay employees with disabilities subminimum wages. This is flat out not fair. Ironically, this law is contained in the Fair Labor Standards Act. The Fair Labor Standards Act is far from fair

14c came into being with a 1986 amendment that created a provision to allow special certificates to do such. The Department of Labor was going to phase out 14c certificated and canceled this phase-out on July 7, 2026 much to th disappointment of the disability community

According to the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities many of those working under 14c have developmental and intellectual disabilities, and that 14c prevents such ones from living independently

We may have to look to the states to protect those with disabilities for several states have already created laws to disallow subminimum wages for those with disabilities. For a list of 14c certificate holder click here. 

I am asking the public not to support any 14c certificate holder. It is unfair and down right discriminatory