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Protecting America’s Meatpacking Workers Act of 2023
12/15/2023, 4:05 PM
Summary of Bill S 270
Key provisions of the bill include:
1. Increasing safety standards: The bill mandates that meatpacking facilities adhere to strict safety guidelines to protect workers from injuries and illnesses. This includes providing proper training, equipment, and protocols to prevent accidents and ensure a safe working environment. 2. Strengthening oversight: The bill calls for increased oversight of meatpacking facilities by government agencies to ensure compliance with labor laws and regulations. This includes regular inspections, reporting requirements, and penalties for violations. 3. Protecting workers’ rights: The bill aims to protect the rights of meatpacking workers by prohibiting discrimination, ensuring fair wages, and providing access to healthcare and other benefits. It also includes provisions for whistleblower protection to encourage workers to report violations without fear of retaliation. 4. Addressing COVID-19 concerns: In response to the ongoing pandemic, the bill includes measures to protect meatpacking workers from COVID-19, such as providing access to testing, vaccines, and personal protective equipment. Overall, the Protecting America’s Meatpacking Workers Act of 2023 seeks to improve the working conditions and safety of workers in the meatpacking industry, ensuring that they are treated fairly and with dignity. By implementing these measures, the bill aims to protect the health and well-being of meatpacking workers and promote a more sustainable and ethical industry.
Congressional Summary of S 270
Protecting America's Meatpacking Workers Act of 2023
This bill addresses workplace conditions and safety with a particular focus on meat and poultry processing establishments and makes other changes to agricultural programs and activities.
Generally, the bill provides funding through FY2029 for hiring additional Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) inspectors and related activities. It also restricts an employer's use of certain attendance policies under which a worker is assessed points for absences with progressive discipline imposed as points accumulate.
Additionally, the bill expands protections for workers who exercise their rights under occupational safety and health laws and regulations. This includes specific protections and procedures for workers of meat and poultry processing establishments.
The bill expands workplace safety and health requirements that apply to meat and poultry processing establishments, including by prohibiting waivers (subject to limited exceptions) related to line speeds and inspections. Additionally, OSHA must issue standards for these establishments that address, for example, ergonomic program management and preventing occupational exposure to COVID-19. OSHA must also (1) establish, within seven days, a process for establishments to report COVID-19 information; and (2) publish certain regulations regarding a workers' representative accompanying an OSHA inspector during inspections of an establishment.
The bill provides funding through FY2032 for, and imposes additional conditions on recipients of, grants to improve meat and poultry processing facilities. Further, the bill increases funding for a program that supports regional and local food systems. It also requires country-of-origin labeling of beef, pork, and dairy products.
