The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), a nonprofit organization that advocates on behalf of small and independent business owners nationwide and in Washington, D.C., recently opposed two bills the Pennsylvania House Labor & Industry Committee advanced on Wednesday.
House Bill 1481 amends the Unemployment Compensation (UC) Law to further provide the qualifications required to secure compensation or be ineligible for compensation. Under the bill, striking workers are eligible for benefits.
House Bill 1751 amends the Construction Workplace Misclassification Act to provide criteria for independent contractors in the construction industry and to provide for private right of action and for fines and penalties.
Both bills passed the committee with a 14-11 vote. NFIB claims the bills would negatively impact small businesses.
Passing H.B. 1481 “would stretch the UC system even thinner than it currently is and take resources away from those that actually need it,” NFIB said.
“NFIB is staunchly opposed to allowing those that make the conscious decision to strike to be eligible for UC payments,” the organization said.
With H.B. 1751, NFIB claimed that it would “place an enormous burden on the backs of small business owners that use independent contractors.” The use of independent contractors already is confusing for small business owners, the organization said.
“At a time when employers still cannot find skilled workers to fill their vacancies, amendments to the independent contractor law are not the answer,” NFIB said.