Michigan Task Force Eyes Employee Misclassification
The Michigan Interagency Task Force on Employee Misclassification is scheduled to convene a public hearing at 9 a.m. today in Farmington as it explore the issue of workers who are misclassified as independent contractors rather than employees -- an issue that arose just a week ago when U.S. House Education and Labor Committee members questioned OSHA chief Edwin Foulke Jr., about the accuracy of federal injury and illness data for the construction industry.
The hearing in Hearing Room 2 of the Michigan Liquor Control Commission office in Farmington will be conducted by Keith Cooley, director of the state's Department of Labor & Economic Growth and chairman of the task force. Lt. Governor John Cherry is scheduled to attend the hearing and make introductory remarks.
Michigan's economy is weak and its unemployment rate is rising, but the department reported June 26 that 13,000 construction jobs were added statewide in May from the number recorded the previous month. For information about the hearing, call 313-456-2416.