Proposed US overtime rules come under fire

[CShine]

US government plans to help more people earn extra cash from working overtime has run into trouble after critics said it would make life worse, not better, for thousands of American workers. Bush is under fire over the proposed overtime rights rules. The spat has highlighted how labour rights could become an important issue ahead of the US Presidential election.

The Bush administration's "Fairpay" initiative aims to bring overtime rules up to date by including workers who are doing jobs that were left out in the past. The Labor Department insists the new rules would strengthen overtime rights for 6.7 million American workers, including low-wage workers who were denied overtime under the old rules. But critics insist it does not go far enough and say a huge number of workers would not qualify for overtime rates under the plan. If the disagreements continue the rules may never get approved at all, leaving overtime pay unprotected for millions of Americans.

The new rules, due to come into effect on 23 August, aim to guarantee overtime protection for workers who earn less than $23,660, (£13,300) per year - that is $455 per week. 6.7 million Americans could benefit from the new rules. The idea looks simple enough, but problems arise not just for those earning less than $23,660 per year, but for those earning more as well.

"They harm a huge number of people making between $23,000 and $100,000," said Republican George Miller from California.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/3700603.stm

[Ironpost]

1. overtime

one of the sure signs that schrub is lying is his mouth is moving... myself could not imagine listening to *