WASHINGTON, Oct. 11—Associated Builders and Contractors today responded to the U.S. Department of Labor’s announcement of a proposed rule to rescind and replace a commonsense, ABC-supported final regulation on independent contractors.

“ABC is deeply disappointed that the Biden DOL is moving forward with a proposed rule that will disrupt legitimate independent contractors, which are an essential component of the construction industry,” said Ben Brubeck, ABC vice president of regulatory, labor and state affairs. “Independent contractors provide specialized skills, entrepreneurial opportunities and stability during fluctuations of work common to construction. Rescinding the commonsense 2021 final rule will increase the confusion and litigation chaos that has bedeviled the regulated community for years. Any effort by DOL to undermine the use of independent contractors in the rulemaking will likely be challenged by ABC and other stakeholders.”

ABC is one of the co-plaintiffs that successfully sued the Biden administration’s DOL for attempting to delay and rescind the commonsense 2021 independent contractor final rule. Under the March 2022 decision issued by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, the 2021 final rule went into effect as scheduled on March 8, 2021, and is currently in effect.     

ABC continues to review the Biden administration’s 184-page proposed rule and analyze its effects on its contractor members and the regulated community, and will request an extension to DOL’s Nov. 28, 2022, comment deadline. 

“A comment period deadline of 45 days is not enough time to properly evaluate this proposal and to ensure DOL has complied with the district court’s order, which remains in effect,” said Brubeck.