The struggle to pass temp worker protections in New Jersey illustrates the difficulties of enacting far-reaching laws for this growing segment of the labor force in the face of staunch opposition from business groups.
The New Jersey bill (A1474) would be the most sweeping temp worker measure passed in the US if it becomes law. But it’s faced intense lobbying by the American Staffing Association, which has a track record of blocking such efforts even in Democratic-majority legislatures.
The growing use of temp and contract labor, particularly among health professionals during the Covid-19 pandemic, has drawn attention from labor groups and progressive policymakers. Despite that, specific temp worker protection laws are on the books in only a handful of states, lagging behind the spread of other pro-worker legislative pushes such as higher minimum wages and limits on employee noncompete agreements.
“There’s very, very little regulation of temporary staffing in this country. Other countries do a lot more,” said Laura Padin, director of work structures at the National Employment Law Project. Some countries mandate equal pay for temp workers and ban the use of temporary labor in hazardous industries, she said.
Padin and other worker advocates are aiming to change that, while acknowledging it’s a steep climb. Business groups including the American Staffing Association say...
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