Back pay for contractors?

      Unlike federal employees, federal contractors in the past have not received back pay during government shutdowns. But Sen. Tina Smith, D-MN, hopes to change that.

      Smith announced she is planning legislation to pay low-wage federal contract workers for wages lost due to the shutdown.

      Smith said in a release that the bill is supported by Sens. Sherrod Brown, D-OH; Tim Kaine and Mark Warner, both D-VA; and Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin, both D-MD.

      While the legislation had not yet been submitted as of press time, the goal is to target wages for thousands of janitorial, cafeteria and security services contract workers, many of whom receive relatively low wages and live paycheck to paycheck, Smith said in her announcement.

      In addition, Smith, along with 33 Democratic senators, wrote to the Office of Management and Budget on Jan. 10 urging the administration to use existing authority so that federal contracting officers can modify terms of contracts so that “low- and middle-income” contract employees receive lost wages.

      “Government contracts typically have provisions to modify the terms of the contract. Federal contracting officers should use these provisions to work with contractors to provide back pay for employees who lost wages as a result of the government shutdown,” the Democratic senators’ letter stated.

More Information: Statements of Sen. Tina Smith (MN):
Re: Low-Wage Federal Contract Employee Back Pay
and Re: Federal Contract Workers Back Pay

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