Torres: Next Supplemental Must Help Independent Contractors & Gig Workers
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Norma J. Torres (CA-35) sent a letter to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Stenny Hoyer urging them to include provisions in the next coronavirus supplemental to address the immediate needs of independent contractors and gig workers.
The letter reads, in part:
As with any worker, these independent contractors and gig workers are in need of immediate assistance if they have to stay home because they contracted the coronavirus, are caring for someone with the virus, or are caring for their children who are home from closed schools. Tax credits may come too late for too many. These workers may also lose their contractors or customers, and unlike other workers, do not qualify for unemployment insurance.
Rep. Torres released the following statement:
"As the federal government takes steps to protect working Americans from the fallout of our coronavirus response, we must make sure those steps help all working Americans," Rep. Torres said. "States across the country have made it easier for employers to classify workers as independent contractors, and depending on which state it is, that classification could exclude those workers from the support our previous supplementals provide. I appreciate the steady leadership Speaker Pelosi and Leader Hoyer bring to these challenging times, and I have full faith that they will take every step possible to protect all American workers right now."
The full text of Rep. Torres' letter is available here.