House Democrats Seek to Raise Fines for Labor Law Violations

Washington — Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA) has reintroduced a bill that would increase fines for workplace safety and health violations.

The Labor Enforcement to Securely (LET’S) Protect Workers Act also includes provisions that would raise civil monetary penalties for the federal government’s standards on child labor, farmworker protection, and minimum wage and overtime.

Other provisions would:

• Close a loophole that allows employers to escape penalties for failing to keep records of workplace injuries if OSHA doesn’t detect the violation within six months.
• Enhance mine safety and reliable funding of black lung benefits via new and increased civil monetary penalties and the option to shut down scofflaw operators.
• Set new penalties for retaliation against workers who take family and medical leave.
• Strengthen enforcement of mental health parity requirements for employer-sponsored health plans.
• Create new penalties for violations of the National Labor Relations Act of 1935, consistent with the Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2021.

“Every American should be fairly compensated and be able to return home safely at the end of the day,” Scott, ranking member of the House Education and Workforce Committee, said in a Dec. 10 press release. “Unfortunately, shortcomings in our labor laws enable unethical employers to exploit workers, endanger children and suppress the right to organize – with little accountability. 

“That’s why I’m proud to reintroduce the LET’S Protect Workers Act, which will hold bad actors accountable and strengthen penalties for labor law violations. This bill will help level the playing field and, once again, restore the balance of power between workers and their employers.”

The bill has 70 co-sponsors. Scott and 37 co-sponsors introduced a similar bill in July 2024. That bill was referred to three House committees but never considered.

The latest bill is accompanied by an updated report titled, “A Slap on the Wrist: How it Pays for Dishonest Employers to Take Advantage of Workers.”