New York, July 22 (AP) — The U.S. Department of Labor is set to overhaul more than 60 "obsolete" workplace regulations. These proposed changes target a wide range of rules, from minimum wage requirements for home health care workers and people with disabilities to workplace safety standards in environments with hazardous substances.
If these revisions are approved, they would heavily impact construction sites and mines, while also limiting how the government penalizes employers in cases of injury or death occurring during high-risk jobs such as film stunts or animal training. According to the Labor Department, the aim is to alleviate costly and burdensome rules from past administrations and fulfill President Donald Trump's pledge to enhance American prosperity through deregulation.
“The Department of Labor is proud to lead the way by eliminating unnecessary regulations that stifle growth and limit opportunity,” commented Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer. Her statement dubbed it the "most ambitious proposal to slash red tape" in any federal department. However, critics argue these changes would endanger workers, disproportionately affecting women and minority groups.
“People are already at significant risk of workplace fatalities,” said Rebecca Reindel, occupational safety and health director for the AFL-CIO union. “This will only exacerbate the problem.” The proposed changes will undergo several procedural stages, including a public comment phase, before potential implementation.
Examining Key Rollbacks Under Consideration
Elimination of Minimum Wage for Home Health Care Workers
Home health care workers provide essential services to the elderly and medically fragile, such as meal preparation and medication administration. A new proposal from the Labor Department would potentially allow 3.7 million home care agency workers to be paid less than the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour and disqualify them from overtime pay unless covered by state laws.
This proposal seeks to revert to a framework from 1975, revoking changes made under former President Barack Obama's administration in 2013. The Department suggests that reducing labor and compliance costs may expand the home care market, helping frail individuals remain in their homes longer.
However, Judy Conti of the National Employment Law Project expressed strong opposition, highlighting the injury risks for workers who often work extended hours without overtime pay.
Conversely, the conservative Independent Women’s Forum supports the rollback, arguing that it could make home care more affordable, thereby aiding women who often bear family caregiving responsibilities. “We support the Trump administration's move to lessen counterproductive, overly detailed regulations,” said the group's president, Carrie Lukas.
Yet, Samantha Sanders from the Economic Policy Institute countered that eliminating these protections would severely impact a workforce dominated by women, especially women of color.
Reducing Protections for Migrant Farm Workers
Previously, regulations were enacted to protect migrant farm workers with H-2A visas, placing various requirements on employers. Under the new proposal, the Labor Department seeks to rescind mandatory seat belts for employer-provided transport and reverse protections against retaliation for workers participating in certain legal activities.
Lori Johnson of Farmworker Justice warned about the history of retaliation against agricultural workers, where employers might not renew visas for those who complain.
Michael Marsh, from the National Council of Agricultural Employers, praised the deregulation, criticizing the flood of regulations as burdensome for farmers.
Rescinding Adequate Lighting Standards for Construction
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) wants to eliminate a specific requirement for employers to provide adequate lighting at construction sites, insisting such a regulation does not significantly mitigate risk. Violations could instead be addressed via OSHA's “general duty clause.”
Worker advocates voiced concerns, however, citing incidents where insufficient lighting led to workplace fatalities.
Changes to Mine Safety Regulations
Proposals that could influence mine safety include ending the authority of Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) district managers to enhance plans for mine ventilation and roof collapse prevention without congressional oversight.
The Department further suggests removing district managers’ ability to mandate changes to health and safety training programs.
Limiting OSHA's Oversight
An OSHA proposal aims to restrict its application of the general duty clause in inherently risky professions like sports and entertainment, arguing that Congress did not intend for certain longstanding practices to fall under regulatory scrutiny.
Debbie Berkowitz, an OSHA chief of staff during the Obama presidency, argues this limitation would compromise safety, fearing a return to neglectful practices due to production pressures.
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