This Law Firm Publication by Jackson Lewis LLP discusses the recent increase in the wage rate required by the Washington D.C. Living Wage Act, to $13.40 per hour. The Living Wage Act requires recipients of D.C. contracts or government assistance to pay employees and subcontractors performing services under the contracts no less than a specified living wage. This increase is the first since 2010, and is retroactive to January 2013. Therefore affected workers are entitled to back pay. Contractors able to prove significant financial hardship may request a waiver.