DeLauro Applauds President Obama’s Announcement Strengthening Overtime Protections

WASHINGTON, DC—Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) released the following statement today applauding President Obama’s announcement he is directing Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez to strengthen overtime pay protections. DeLauro is senior Democrat on the subcommittee responsible for funding the Labor Department.

“Millions of Americans put in a hard day’s work—and then some—but cannot get ahead due to the erosion of rules protecting the 40-hour workweek, a linchpin of the middle class. Rules like this do more than just protect workers. They also create a level playing field for businesses who want to treat their employees fairly and decently. Without basic standards, we would have a race to the bottom. But all too often, people are working harder, but still find themselves falling behind. For America to continue on a path of strength and prosperity, that needs to end, and strengthening overtime pay protections is a step in the right direction. I applaud President Obama for today’s announcement and look forward to seeing the results of Secretary Perez’s review.”

Overtime and minimum wage rules are set by the Fair Labor Standards Act, which was originally passed by Congress in 1938 and protects over 135 million workers in more than 7.3 million workplaces nationwide. Workers who are paid hourly wages or earn below a certain salary threshold are generally protected by overtime regulations. That threshold has only been updated twice in the last 40 years and has lagged far behind inflation. As a result, millions of low-paid, salaried workers lack these basic protections.

The President’s direction to Secretary Perez requires he consider how modernized regulations:

· Update existing protections in keeping with the intention of the Fair Labor Standards Act

· Address the changing nature of the American workplace

· Simplify the overtime rules to make them easier for both workers and businesses to understand and apply