The Trump administration is moving to unwind a Biden-era rule that tightened standards for classifying gig workers as employees, a shift that could reshape labor practices across industries from transportation to health care, The Wall Street Journal writes.
The Labor Department has proposed restoring a streamlined “economic reality” test that prioritizes employer control and a worker’s opportunity for profit, making it easier to treat workers as independent contractors.
The proposal would effectively revert policy to a 2021 framework, easing compliance burdens for companies such as Uber and DoorDash while drawing criticism from labor advocates who argue it could limit access to minimum wage and overtime protections. Business groups say the change restores clarity and preserves flexibility valued by many gig workers.
A public comment period on the rule runs through April 28, setting up another high-stakes debate over the future of independent work.
The Wall Street Journal has the full story.
