Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act authorizes employers, after receiving a certificate from the Wage and Hour Division, to pay special minimum wages — wages less than the Federal minimum wage — to workers who have disabilities for the work being performed.
Fetched verbatim passage. AI summary (separate from source): Current DOL guidance still describes federal law as allowing certified employers to pay workers with disabilities less than the federal minimum wage, so the promised federal protection has not been fully delivered.
With this action, the Department is formally discontinuing the rulemaking process and removing the proposal from further consideration.
Fetched verbatim passage. AI summary (separate from source): The Labor Department withdrew the Biden-era proposed rule that would have phased out Section 14(c) subminimum-wage certificates, leaving the issue unresolved administratively.
unresolvedsame_term
2025-12534.pdf
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 94%
verified · Source version 74808 · locator 844
The Department is withdrawing this NPRM and is not planning to take further action on this rule.
Fetched verbatim passage. AI summary (separate from source): The Unified Agenda entry confirms the Section 14(c) phaseout rulemaking moved to completed actions through withdrawal, with no further rule action planned.
unresolvedsame_term
View Rule
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 91%
verified · Source version 74810 · locator 1406
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Fetched verbatim passage. AI summary (separate from source): The current Congress has a relevant Senate bill to phase out Section 14(c), but the official bill record shows only referral to committee rather than enactment.
unverified · Source version 74812 · locator unknown
the authority to issue special certificates under paragraph (1) shall expire; and no special certificates issued under paragraph (1) shall have any legal effect.
Unverified model/legacy excerpt; not proof. AI summary (separate from source): The pending bill text would phase out new and existing Section 14(c) certificates, matching the substance of the commitment, but it remains a bill rather than enacted law.
unverified · Source version 74814 · locator unknown
The Commission’s report cited Senator Hassan’s letter and specifically highlighted a bill she cosponsored, the Transformation to Competitive Employment Act, which would phase out the practice of paying subminimum wages nationally
Unverified model/legacy excerpt; not proof. AI summary (separate from source): Hassan had documented advocacy and cosponsorship for a federal phaseout of subminimum wages for disabled workers, but this evidence shows effort rather than enacted delivery.