US Sen. Charles E. Schumer on Sunday urged Congress to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act that would ensure that equal wages are paid for equal work, regardless of gender.

Schumer said the data which showcased that women earn nearly $5,100 less a year in nursing as compared to men highlights the need for the Paycheck Fairness Act.

In his view, men and women who perform the same job should also get equal wages. And if women are discriminated even in nursing field then they're not protected anywhere, he said.

As per sources familiar with the issue, the bill would ban employers from retaliating against workers for sharing salary information and increase the compensation for women who bring job discrimination complaints.

Schumer noted that a recent study showed that unfairness even extends to nursing, where males are paid more than female counterparts.

The study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association examined salary trends by gender from 1988 to 2008 from a national sample survey of registered nurses.

It showed that males earned about $5,100 a year more on average, though mostly females take up the profession.

According to Schumer, on average, women in the US make about 78 cents for every dollar made by men.

Schumer said, "The Paycheck Fairness Act, which we must finally pass, is an important piece of legislation that helps put an end to the shocking pay gap that currently exists between men and women".

Schumer will also speak in Manhattan against gender-based wage discrimination.