Clinton Wants to Strengthen U.S. Whistle-Blower Shield
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After finding that workers who complain of health and safety hazards are often dismissed from their jobs, the Clinton Administration will soon propose sweeping new protections for such whistle-blowers, Federal officials say. The law that created the Occupational Safety and Health Administration prohibits employers from retaliating against people who report unsafe or unhealthy working conditions. But the inspector general of the Labor Department, Charles C. Masten, said such reprisals often occurred, and Charles N. Jeffress, the Assistant Secretary of Labor in charge of OSHA, said the Clinton Administration would soon recommend changes in the law to increase the protection of workers who expose health and safety hazards. ”If employees hesitate to exercise their rights for fear of losing their jobs, these rights are meaningless,” Mr. Jeffress said. ”Too many employers feel they can retaliate against whistle-blowers with impunity.” Workers file more than 2,000 complaints a year asserting that they have been dismissed, demoted or penalized for reporting health and safety violations to employers or to the Government. But, Mr. Jeffress said, the existing Federal law is ”too weak and too cumbersome to discourage employer retaliation or to provide an effective remedy for the victims.” More : query.nytimes.com |