Obama Administration Mulls Introducing New Bills to Protect Workers

October 18, 2009

Washington - In line with the government’s plan to provide a safe environment to workers and prevent wage discrimination, US President Barack Obama and his aides will introduce new bills to protect employees from workplace hazards, unlawful discrimination, and other unfair labor practices.

One of the proposed legislations will give the Occupational Safety and Health Administration more authority in regulating and implementing safety standards to reduce the incidents of work-related injuries.

To pave way for a quick employment investigation, the Labor Department’s Wage and Hour Division will also hire 250 investigators who will probe the worker’s complaints and will serve as mediators between companies and employees.

Another proposed legislation will ban employers from using “genetic information” as basis for any employment decision. “Genetic information” includes existing illnesses and family medical condition.

Meanwhile, the administration is also proposing to include sexual orientation in the list of unlawful discrimination. However, this proposed legislation does not cover military and religious organizations and companies that employ less than 15 workers.