Federal contractors employ 2,000,000 people, many at poverty-level wages. No workers employed on federal projects should be paid so little that they can’t make ends meet. Tax payers should not be expected to pay for both wages and public assistance for the same employees.
President Obama should require that all federal contractors comply with the Service Employment Act which requires that all direct federal employees be paid a living wage.
The free market has a mechanism to correct for unfair employment practices, but these contracts are not susceptible to individuals voting with their pocket book.
We urge President Obama to address this issue and resolve what he can by executive order.