Final answer:
The Equal Pay Act of 1963 is the law that mandates equal pay for men and women doing equal work. Even though this law is aimed at reducing the gender wage gap, studies have shown that significant disparities in pay continue to exist, demonstrating the ongoing challenges in combating workplace discrimination.
Step-by-step explanation:
The law that states an employer cannot discriminate in pay to men and women who do the same job is the Equal Pay Act. This act was established in 1963 and specifically mandates that employers must provide equal pay for equal work regardless of the sex of their employees. It is a crucial step towards public policies aimed to reduce discrimination in the labor market.
Despite the existence of the Equal Pay Act, the gender pay gap remains a persistent issue. Studies have illustrated that women earn significantly less than men, even after adjusting for factors like education, career paths, and life choices. These discrepancies can partly be attributed to ongoing discrimination in the workplace.
Other significant legislative efforts to fight employment discrimination include the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; and the Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978. The combined effect of these laws has contributed to reducing the gender wage gap, though full equality in pay continues to be a goal yet to be fully realized.