Workers’ protection

The Legislature is considering a proposal called LD 1847 that would change the way the state determines who can collect unemployment when they are out of work through no fault of their own. Most contractors pay an unemployment insurance tax for part of their workers’ earnings. This is done so a fund is available to help those temporarily who find themselves out of work.

It’s an important program because workers earn that protection and those who are laid off at least can have some security while they actively look for a new job. Some contractors don’t pay their fair share, they leave that up to the other contractors. Some just ignore that responsibility and say their workers are really individual sub-contractors.

The state knows the difference because state law defines who is really not an employee. The proposal is to change that law. If changed, it would make it easier for these contractors to call more workers subcontractors and not pay their share. It would promote more abuse and put even more pressure on the contractors who do pay. The unemployment insurance program works and tampering with it can make it all much more confusing, even if the proposal says it’s to clarify it.

Scott Clement

Glenburn