Issue Position: Women's Economic Security Act

Issue Position

Minnesota's economy is headed in the right direction, but not everyone is sharing in the gains. And when we dig underneath the first layer of economic challenges facing Minnesotans, we find that the people struggling to stay in or step into the middle class are disproportionately women. With the passage of the Women's Economic Security Act, we're breaking down barriers to economic progress so that women -- and all Minnesotans - have a fair opportunity to succeed.

Pay equity and wages:

Women make up 50% of Minnesota's workforce, but 58% of workers who are paid $9.50 or less. And on average, women make 80 cents for every dollar a man makes. This law helps to close the gender pay gap by requiring private businesses that contract with the state to report on pay equity within their workforce.

Job segregation:

Despite the fact that women are earning a majority of post-secondary degrees, they are still clustered in low-wage job sectors. This law supports and encourages women in non-traditional, high-wage jobs and support growth for women-owned small businesses.

Work-life balance:

Women remain the primary caregiver for children, and for ailing relatives or parent. Three out of four Minnesotans who provide 20+ hours per week of regular unpaid care to a friend or family member are women. But many jobs do not provide flexibility or paid leave. The Women's Economic Security Act expands access to high-quality, affordable childcare; allows paid family and sick leave for working families, and makes unpaid leave under the Minnesota Parental Leave Act available to more new moms and dads.

Source