Dear Senator Braun:
On behalf of National Taxpayers Union (NTU), the nation’s oldest taxpayer advocacy organization, I wanted to express our support for S. 338, the Helping Gig Economy Workers Act of 2021. Your legislation would allow digital marketplace companies to provide employee assistance during the COVID-19 crisis without this assistance being used as evidence to classify these workers as employees or independent contractors (or establishing the company as a joint employer) under federal, state, or local law or regulation. Gig workers have been deeply affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the threat of increased regulation from government bureaucrats should not impede the distribution of health benefits, PPE, and paid leave to a critical sector of the economy.
NTU has highlighted the challenges gig workers face during the COVID-19 pandemic. While difficult to measure, surveys show that between 25 and 30 percent of workers have engaged in non-traditional or gig work, and over 10 percent rely on gig work as their primary income. Additionally, millions of Americans depend on gig workers for ridesharing and other essential services. Congress should reduce barriers so these workers are able to continue to work safely during a precarious and challenging time. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted nearly every facet of life, and gig workers have borne the brunt of those impacts as well. Preventing this sizable group from receiving benefits and safety protections could endanger these workers and dampen positive economic growth in this area.
Debate over worker classification at the federal, state, and local levels should not jeopardize gig workers’ access to vital services. Gig workers should not be forced to choose between their work status and access to relief. This commonsense bill would follow in the same vein as other COVID-19 related legislation and assist with providing more immediate relief to Americans that have been overlooked.
We are pleased to support the Helping Gig Economy Workers Act of 2021. As Congress continues to prioritize relief for American workers and businesses, we look forward to working towards its enactment as a standalone bill, or as part of a broader COVID-19 package.
Sincerely,
Will Yepez, Policy and Government Affairs Associate