The Equal Pay Act of 1963 makes it illegal for employers to pay unequal wages to men and women who perform substanally equal work. An act to prohibit discrimination in the payment of wages on the basis of the gender of the employee.The Frequently Asked Questions and answers below are intended to address certain frequently asked questions concerning various equal employment opportunity. Known as the Equal Pay Act, the statute requires that men and women be paid equally for equal work. Equal pay rights abuses are clear in wage discrimination against women. Lilly Ledbetter paved the way for wage discrimination lawsuits for equal pay. The Equal Pay Act (EPA) protects individuals of all sexes. The Equal Pay Act: This federal law requires men and women who work in substantially similar roles to be paid the same. North Carolina does not regulate equal pay at the state level. See Fair employment practices law.