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Webber hopes to build on wage gap momentum

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Rep. Stephen Webber, D-Columbia, introduced a bill Tuesday to narrow the gender pay gap.

Both the University of Missouri and the Women’s Foundation showed women in Missouri are paid 71 cents to each dollar made by men in research studies.

The bill, HB 2370, prohibits employers from discriminating in providing compensation based on gender for the same work. The bill will also direct the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to develop best practices to ensure employees are treated and compensated fairly regardless of gender, as recommended in the studies.

Webber
Webber

“We need to be proactive in ensuring women are fairly compensated in the workplace,” said Webber. “The pay gap is a family and fairness issue. When women are paid less their families suffer and their children suffer. Our current situation is just unfair, and wrong. Narrowing the gender pay gap will help businesses and government recruit the best and brightest from across the country, while helping Missouri families make ends meet.”

The Women’s Foundation announced initial findings from a comprehensive statewide research project with the University of Missouri that showed women in Missouri are paid only 71 cents to the dollar men make for the same work.

The bill comes months after Gov. Jay Nixon signed an executive order to encourage best practices at the Women’s Foundation luncheon featuring Ariana Huffington.

Last session, Webber sponsored HB 44, which was similar to HB 2370, where Women’s Foundation CEO Wendy Doyle testified.