WESA & Equal Pay Certificate

On May 11, 2014, Governor Mark Dayton signed the Women's Economic Security Act (WESA) into law. The law, in part, creates an obligation for certain state contractors to obtain an Equal Pay Certificate from the Minnesota Department of Human Rights prior to executing a contract. The new law concerning Equal Pay Certificates can be found in the Minnesota Human Rights Act at Minn. Stat. 363A.44.

Contractors seeking an Equal Pay Certificate

Contractors seeking an Equal Pay Certificate must submit:

• The $150 application fee. PLEASE NOTE: You have 120 days from the date of this receipt to submit all required documents and complete your application process or this fee will be forfeited. 
• A statement of equal pay compliance signed by the organization's Chief Executive Officer
• Then, mail to the Minnesota Department of Human Rights, Contract Compliance—Pay Equity Certification, 540 Fairview Avenue North, Suite 201, 55104 Saint Paul, MN.

You can find the answers to your most frequently asked questions about the new law below.

Contractors seeking assistance for Equal Pay Audits

The Minnesota Department of Human Rights is providing guidance to assist contractors in completing the Equal Pay Audit spreadsheet. If you have questions, please call the Department at 651-539-1095, toll free at 800-657-3704 or MN Relay at 711 or 1-800-627- 3529.

Download Equal Pay Audit Guidance.

Download an Equal Pay Audit Excel worksheet.