Trump draws ire for ‘leaving behind’ 8.2m workers with overtime rule

The US President Donald Trump introduced a new labor rule that receives $ 1.4 billion from a worker's pocket, according to the US think tank.

The US Department of Labor (DOL) published a final rule on overtime on September 24, setting the standard for payroll workers to automatically set overtime pay at $ 35,568 annually.

US Department of Labor spokesman Patrick Pictella said, "In 15 years, for the first time in the United States, US workers will update the overtime rule, which pays overtime pay in the pockets of more than one million Americans." .

"This rule provides a common sense approach that provides consistency and certainty to employers as well as clarity and prosperity for US workers."

But the Economic Policy Institute, which describes it as a "non-party group" trying to include the needs of low-income and middle-class workers in its economic policy discussions, argued that the rule would "move back" more than 8 million people in the United States. You will be guaranteed overtime according to the rules of 2016.

In a statement published at TPI World, Heidi Shierholz, EPI's chief economic analyst and policy director, said, "It's not good for the administration to regard this rule as good for workers."

"Indeed, this rule leaves millions of workers under overtime protection under a much more powerful rule released in 2016 under the much stronger rule that the Trump administration gave up."

Threshold

The previous rule on overtime stipulated that professional workers and blue collar workers who earned less than $ 23,000 each year may receive overtime pay, with some exceptions.

Former President Barack Obama forecasts to raise the salary to $ 47,476 in 2014 with respect to inflation and living costs.

The rule, which caused concern for many businesses across the country, was scheduled to go into effect in 2016, but 21 Republican-controlled countries filed lawsuits before the government took effect.

A federal judge in Texas invalidated the rule that he did not have the authority to make a big impression on the 2017 labor law.

After Trump took office in 2017, his minister at the time of Alex Acosta said he would not appeal the decision.

Instead, according to critics, Acosta has devised a different plan that is better suited for the business.

"[This] It's part of the Trump administration's list of policies aimed at undermining the economic stability of the US labor force. ”Richard Trumka, President of the AFL-CIO Labor Union, the largest trade union federation in the United States Tweet In March after the Trump administration released the new version of the rules.

National requirements

Shierholz argued that the 2016 rule set in Texas court was "very appropriate but conservative."

Shierholz said, “The remaining 8.2 million workers by this proposal consist of 3.1 million workers who have received new overtime protection under the 2016 rule and another 1.6 million workers who have strengthened overtime protection under this rule. Comments on the new rule.

The Trump administration thinks someone is "a well-paid executive who makes $ 35,568 per year," Shierholz said.

This rule will be enforced nationwide, and most metropolitan areas require much higher salaries to live comfortably.

To own a humble home in New York City, you need a salary of $ 103,887. In Dallas, Texas, the salary is $ 68,158.

Homeowners need a salary of $ 55,139 to live comfortably in Cleveland, Ohio, known for its low cost of living. In Atlanta, Georgia, which is becoming the major arts and entertainment hub in the United States, homeowners or renters must earn about $ 88,000.

The new rule is disadvantageous for all types of people, especially women and people of color, Shierholz said.

“2.8 million workers include 4.2 million women, 3.3 million people of color, 470 million workers without college degrees, and 2.7 million parents of children under 18 years of age. More than half (1.4 million) of 2.7 million parents are mothers. ”

Shierholz concluded in the Trump administration that: Instead, Trump once again confronted the interests of those who worked the attention of business executives. "

Source: TRT World