DOL, Kentucky Labor Cabinet Leaders Sign Misclassification Pact
Labor agencies in the states of Alabama, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming agencies have signed similar agreements.
Leaders from the U.S. Labor Department and the Kentucky Labor Cabinet have signed a three-year agreement to protect misclassified workers, both agencies announced July 15. Their Memorandum of Understanding aims to protect the rights of employees by preventing their misclassification as independent contractors or other non-employee statuses, and it allows the agencies to share information and coordinate law enforcement.
Labor agencies in the states of Alabama, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming agencies have signed similar agreements.
"Misclassification deprives workers of their hard earned wages and undercuts law-abiding businesses. Combating misclassification is one of several important steps the U.S. Labor Department is taking to ensure that workers receive a fair day's pay for a fair day's work," said David Weil, DOL's Wage and Hour Division administrator.
"Simply put, misclassification cheats workers, steals from taxpayers, hurts businesses that follow the law, and weakens our economy. Although legitimate independent contractors are an important part of our economy, the misclassification of employees presents a serious problem that is happening at public and private projects all over the Commonwealth," said Larry L. Roberts, the Kentucky Labor Cabinet secretary.
For more information, visit www.dol.gov/misclassification/.