WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the U.S. Department of Labor issued guidance on how to determine employee or independent contractor status when enforcing the Fair Labor Standards Act.
The bulletin stated that, “While the department reviews the 2024 final rule, Employee or Independent Contractor Classification Under the Fair Labor Standards Act—which is also being challenged in federal court—agency investigators are directed not to apply the 2024 rule’s analysis in current enforcement matters.”
Patrice Onwuka, director of the Center for Economic Opportunity at Independent Women, released the following statement:
“The Trump Department of Labor just gave independent contractors a big win. By pausing enforcement of the duplicitous 2024 Biden rule, self-employed Americans, freelancers, and gig workers can breathe a sigh of relief, for now. As courts sort out this issue, independent contractors won’t have to worry about losing their independent status or being forced into a traditional 9-to-5 job.
“Flexibility is highly important to millions of Americans, especially women. They cannot work in traditional jobs because of their unique life circumstances, such as caregiving responsibilities for family and health conditions. Independent Women has been telling the stories of women, such as female truckers, who depend on independent contracting to earn a fulfilling living while raising families. The Biden administration blatantly ignored the public outcry over its rule.
“As we enter Small Business Week, the Trump administration is demonstrating its commitment to protecting flexible work and worker freedom. We are grateful to Secretary Lori Chavez-Deremer for listening to the people of America. We hope Congress codifies in law a clear and consistent standard to determine independent or employee status, such as the Modern Worker Empowerment Act introduced by Representative Kevin Kiley, to end the ping-pong game from administration to administration over worker classification. ”
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Independent Women’s Forum’s Center for Economic Opportunity (CEO) aims to educate the public about how government policies impact people’s opportunities for economic development and upward mobility.