The bill amends the existing wage regulation law in Michigan by adding a new section, 13b, which prohibits employers from paying different wages to employees for equal work based on protected attributes or characteristics, such as race, sex, or age. This section outlines that employers must pay equal wages for jobs that require equal skill, effort, and responsibility under similar working conditions. However, it allows for exceptions if the wage differences are based on seniority, merit, production quality, or other non-protected factors. Additionally, employers are not permitted to reduce wages of any employee to comply with this new requirement.

Furthermore, the bill repeals section 13 of the improved workforce opportunity wage act, which may indicate a shift in how wage regulations are structured in Michigan. The inclusion of the definition of "protected attribute or characteristic" aligns the new provisions with existing civil rights protections under the Elliott-Larsen civil rights act, ensuring comprehensive coverage against wage discrimination.

Statutes affected:
House Introduced Bill: 408.471, 408.490, 408.943