North Dakota law makes it legal to pay individuals with

developmental disabilities less than minimum wage

Fair Labor Standards act allows subminimum wage
Author: Mary Montoya
Published: 9:43 p.m. February 11, 2018

BISMARCK- Due to a state law, individuals with developmental disabilities are being paid
subminimum wage for jobs which others are receiving at least minimum wage.

The federal minimum wage for the state of North Dakota is $7.25 an hour. According to the U.S.
Government Accountability Office, subminimum wage workers on average make $2.50 an hour.

From a recent interview with Julie Horntvedt, executive director of, North Dakota State Council
on Developmental Disabilities, “the [ Developmental Disabilities] council advocates for change
through legislation, policy, and practice to protect the rights of persons with developmental
disabilities to just and favorable conditions of work. It is time that the legislators and the State
of North Dakota begin to address the issue of subminimum wage.”

The DD Council is currently creating an employment campaign with businesses in the Bis-man
community who pay disabled individuals at least minimum wage.

Due to mental and physical disabilities, companies can decide what each individual’s pay will be
based on how well he or she can complete the task at hand.