Legislators Seek to Stop California’s Controversial Contractor Law From Spreading Nationwide

Passed in California in 2019, AB 5 reclassified many contract or freelance workers to employees, allowing them to receive benefits.

A worker tosses a hammer to a colleague as construction continues on the HWY 73 southern interchange from the 405 freeway in Costa Mesa, Calif., on April 21, 2022. John Fredricks/The Epoch Times

State and federal lawmakers are introducing legislation to stop rules limiting independent contractor work, after the U.S. Department of Labor issued a rule change Jan. 10 to recategorize many such workers as employees, using similar provisions as a controversial California law.

At issue is Assembly Bill 5, passed in California in 2019, which reclassified many contract or freelance workers to employees, allowing them to receive benefits.