Washington — Legislation recently introduced in the House would equip OSHA and the Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division with “the resources needed to tackle federal labor law violations.”
Sponsored by Rep. Morgan McGarvey (D-KY), the Workers Protecting Our Wage Earners’ Rights (POWER) Act would provide grants to states to help enforce safety and health and child labor laws.
Additionally, the bill would increase DOL staffing in the form of internships, recent graduate programs and fellowships, as well as expand the department’s Honors Attorney Program in the solicitor’s office.
“This bill creates a better future for our country’s workers by empowering the Department of Labor to crack down on bad actors engaging in conduct ranging from child labor violations to wage theft,” McGarvey said in a press release. “I’m proud to lead my colleagues in the fight to prevent our workers from being exploited and will continue working to ensure every worker in our country makes good wages and has safe working conditions.”
The bill, which has 42 Democratic co-sponsors, has been referred to the House Education and the Workforce Committee.
