Ranking Member Scott Applauds Biden for Protecting Workers’ Workplace Rights
WASHINGTON – Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the Biden-Harris administration issued a final rule to address the misclassification of employees as independent contractors under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
“The guarantee of minimum wages, overtime pay, and safe and healthy workplaces has, for decades, been essential to supporting the workers who fuel our economy.
“Regrettably, the pervasive misclassification of workers as independent contractors jeopardizes workers’ access to fundamental workplace rights and undermines employers, taxpayers, and our economy. When unscrupulous employers misclassify workers, who should be treated as employees under the law, as independent contractors, they strip workers of the basic protections that ensure they can benefit from and contribute to our economy. Worker misclassification also undermines law-abiding businesses that are forced to compete with dishonest employers who use misclassification to unfairly cut down on labor costs.
“Despite the unfair consequences of worker misclassification, my Republican colleagues appear intent on propping up the previous administration’s proposal to make it easier for employers to misclassify workers. Continuing the Trump rule would have cost workers nearly $4 billion each year in lost wages and benefits.
“In contrast, President Biden’s final rule restores the sensible, decades-old standard for determining whether a worker is an employee or an independent contractor. We cannot afford to break our promise to workers that they will have access to basic workplace protections or our promise to employers that they can compete on a level playing field. By finalizing this important rule, the Biden-Harris administration is helping to build an economy where everyone can succeed.”
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