MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WPDE) — Many people with disabilities are working for less than the minimum wage across South Carolina.
Advocates across the state are working to change that.
Representatives with Able South Carolina said more than 2900 South Carolinians with disabilities are working in what are called sheltered workshops.
One Horry County parent of a child with a disability said this issue is more than “subminimum wages.” They said it’s about human decency.
“Subminimum wages are forcing people into poverty,” said Katie Sacra.
The Fair Labor Standards Act (1938) allows a provision that legalizes people with disabilities to work for certain training centers and sheltered workshops for less than $7.25 an hour.
“Subminimum wage is really just based on the discriminatory notion that people with disabilities are less than and inherently can’t be successful in employment,” said Able South Carolina’s Director of Employment Programs Sandy Jordan.