Vision of Labor Laws

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Vision of the Future:
The Federal Laws passed since 1990 and the Virginia state laws both point to the trend that discrimination will be less tolerated in the workplace. From the point of view of global business, the International labor Organization says that peace can be established only if it is based on social justice. If conditions of labor exist involving injustice, hardship, and privation to large numbers of people, there is need for improvement of those conditions.
Consider the federal laws since 1991, Apart from Federal laws that prevent discrimination based on disabilities and sex ( sexual harassment), there are several other moves made by the Federal government. The Glass Ceiling Commission was created by the Civil Rights Act of 1991, the FMLA protected jobs during family and medial leave, and in 1996 there was an initiative launched to end sweatshops(3). The Workforce Investment Act was enacted during President Clinton's second term to create a means for businesses to participate in workforce training and career pathways programs. Among the global trends, the UN agency the ILO adopted convention 182 in 1999 which banned and removed child labor. Further, in the US the Office of Disability Employment Policy was created to integrate individuals into the workplace.

Overall the trend is to make the workplace more humane and free of workplace discrimination. When considering Virginia state laws, these laws supplement the Federal Labor laws. For example, The Virginians with Disabilities Act broadens the scope of the ADA to include employers with six employees(2). This means that an employer with six or more employees cannot discriminate against a disabled employee/potential employee and must provide reasonable accommodation to the employee. One development that can occur during the next 10 years or so is that the ADA may be expanded to include all employers. This means the minimum 15 employees limit might go.
Another development in the Federal laws is that the PWBA has been renamed The Employee Benefits Security Administration in 2003. It focuses on protecting the benefits of workers and their families by regulating retirement, health care, and other benefits plans. It enforces the ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, and ACA. During the next ten years we may expect laws that may make it compulsory for employer to provide or support health insurance. This is a major development that can be expected during the next ten years.

During the next ...