The U.S. Department of Labor is proposing over 60 changes to “obsolete” workplace regulations, the Associated Press reports. The rules cover areas from minimum wage requirements for home health care workers and people with disabilities to standards governing exposure to harmful substances.
The wide-ranging changes announced this month, if approved, would also affect working conditions at construction sites and in mines, and curtail the government’s ability to penalize employers if workers are injured or killed while participating in inherently risky activities like movie stunts or animal training.
The goal, according to the Labor Department, is to reduce costly, burdensome rules imposed under previous administrations and to follow through on President Donald Trump’s promise to restore nationwide prosperity through deregulation.
Critics say the changes would put workers at greater risk of harm, with a disproportionate impact on women and members of minority groups.
The proposals have many stages to get through before they may take effect. Click here for a full list of the proposed changes.
