Latinas Fuel $1 Trillion in Economic Value—Yet Still Earn a Fraction: Voto Latino Pushes for Equal Pay
Washington, D.C. — On Latina Equal Pay, Voto Latino is bringing attention to the wage gap that continues to stagnate the economic power of Latinas. On average, Latinas earn just 54 cents for every dollar paid to white, non-Hispanic men. Even among those working full-time, year-round, Latinas are still paid only 58 cents on the dollar. This is a stark reminder of how deeply inequity is embedded in our economy. Voto Latino issued the following statement:
“Latina Equal Pay Day exposes the cruel math of a system that tells Latinas to work harder, study longer, and dream bigger, but then pays them half as much. This is not just about paychecks; it’s about fair treatment and pay. It’s about who gets to thrive in America and who gets told to wait their turn.This wage gap is not just an economic statistic, it’s a moral failure. Latinas are the backbone of industries, households, and communities across the country, and our contributions cannot be denied.
Latinas drive over $1 trillion of our nation’s GDP, yet our policies still fail to recognize and reward that contribution. It’s time our economic impact was matched with equity and respect. Every year that passes without change is another year stolen from our families’ futures. Lost wages mean millions of families living paycheck to paycheck, struggling to afford health care, child care, or education. The cost of inequality expands across generations, holding back not just Latinas but the nation’s progress.
Voto Latino calls on lawmakers and business leaders to act with urgency to close the pay gap, protect workers’ rights, and recognize that equity in the economy is essential for a just democracy. But statements of support are not enough — we need substantial policy changes that reflect the real needs of working families. The United States remains one of the only developed nations without guaranteed paid maternity leave, leaving millions of women — especially Latinas — to choose between their income and their newborns. In contrast, countries across the European Union provide an average of 20 to 26 weeks of paid leave, ensuring that caregiving is treated as a public good, not a private burden. True equity means investing in the workers and parents who keep this country running, not leaving them behind.”
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Voto Latino is a civic advocacy organization dedicated to educating and empowering the next generation of Latino voters while working to build a more inclusive and representative democracy. Since its founding, Voto Latino has registered nearly two million voters. In 2024, the organization took legal action to protect voting rights, filing multiple lawsuits in Texas, Arizona, and North Carolina to safeguard access to the ballot ahead of the elections.