Alabama lawmakers are making moves to bring portable benefits to app-based workers in the state. Portable benefits would provide workers in the gig economy with access to benefits such as health insurance, retirement savings, and paid time off that are not traditionally available to independent contractors. This push for portable benefits comes as more and more people are turning to app-based work for their primary source of income.
Representative Danny Garrett introduced a bill that would allow app-based companies to contribute to a benefits fund for their workers. These contributions would be used to provide workers with benefits that they can take with them from job to job. This bill, if passed, would be a significant step towards ensuring that app-based workers have the same protections and benefits as traditional employees.
Supporters of the bill argue that portable benefits would help to address the growing issue of income inequality and financial insecurity among workers in the gig economy. By providing workers with access to benefits that are not tied to a single employer, portable benefits could help to stabilize the financial situations of app-based workers and create a more level playing field between them and traditional employees.
While the bill has received some opposition from app-based companies, who argue that it would increase their costs, lawmakers are optimistic that it will ultimately be successful in providing much-needed support to gig workers. If passed, this bill has the potential to set a precedent for other states looking to address the challenges faced by app-based workers in today’s economy.
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