On January 1, 1999, the “Chicago Living Wage Ordinance” (CLWO) went into effect, mandating a “living wage” minimum of $7.60/hour for certain categories of workers of contractors or subcontractors of the city of Chicago. The CLWO, like similar “living wage” laws enacted in over 70 localities around the country, attempts to address two major problems: rising economic inequality and the inadequacy of low-wage jobs for working families.