US President Barack Obama is known for his active participation in drafting policies which are not only beneficial for women but also for the society, in large.
His years in White House are marked with signing major legislations like, the Affordable Care Act, the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, and the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act.
Obama’s fight for equal pay has witnessed implementation of various policies, and time and again he has called on Congress to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act.
Working tirelessly to create a level-playing field, the Department of Labor & the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission had been roped in, to announce a new proposal requiring businesses with 100 or more employees to submit summary pay data by gender, race, and ethnicity, helping focus public enforcement of existing laws.
On Wednesday, equal pay pledge got a boost, with 44 more companies including big names like AT&T, Estee Lauder and InterContinental Hotels, guaranteeing to follow equal pay structure for men and women. With this addition the list has crossed the mark of 100 companies who pledged for equal pay.
Barack Obama has been vocal about pay parity and all his efforts in this direction included, passing legislative, executive orders, research funding and corporate prodding.
A leading advocate for women’s equality, Lisa Maatz said, that the executive push to pay parity issue is a welcome move, but it has to followed up by the Trump administration and Congress.
The last minute addition by the Obama administration, is a parting gift for American women and has paved the path for the President-elect Donald Trump to follow it up with equal, if not more, dedication.
It is to be seen, where the issue of pay parity goes from here.
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