In Florida, a legislative proposal (HB 221) seeks to allow certain workers, including interns and apprentices, to voluntarily opt out of minimum wage for up to 252 days, provided they are paid at least the federal minimum wage. Critics argue this bill undermines a voter-approved minimum wage increase, potentially exploits vulnerable workers, and lacks adequate enforcement mechanisms. Despite concerns about the bill’s constitutionality and its potential to lower wages, it has advanced from a House subcommittee along party lines, with Republicans supporting it and Democrats opposing it.
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A new Amnesty International report details widespread exploitation of migrant workers in Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), including accounts of forced labor, sexual abuse, and unsafe working conditions. The report, based on interviews with 44 workers, reveals systemic issues such as wage theft, racial and gender-based violence, and employer-specific work permits that leave workers vulnerable. Amnesty calls for the program’s overhaul, advocating for open work permits and an end to discriminatory practices violating international human rights law. The Canadian government, while citing increased penalties for non-compliant employers and recent program modifications, faces mounting criticism for insufficient action to address the persistent and severe exploitation.
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John Q. Hosedrinker