For Immediate Release

Contact Information
Cynthia Santana
Phone: 206-256-5219
Email: cynthia.santana@seattle.gov

Seattle Office of Labor Standards Invites Public Comment on Proposed Rules for the Independent Contractor Protections Ordinance and
Proposed Rule Amendment to Chapter 140 Practice and Procedures for Labor Standards Enforcement

Seattle, WA – (June 8, 2022) The Office of Labor Standards (OLS) invites public comment on proposed rules for the Independent Contractor Protections (ICP) Ordinance.

This ordinance requires covered hiring entities to provide independent contractors with disclosures prior to entering a contract and at the time of payment. In addition, hiring entities must provide timely payment under the terms of a contract, the terms of the pre-contract disclosure, or within 30 days of contract performance.

The new rules clarify issues raised by the ordinance, including provisions related to coverage, pre-contract disclosures, and timely payment.

OLS also invites public comment on a proposed rule that would amend Chapter 140 Practice and Procedures for Labor Standards Enforcement.

The ICP Ordinance gives the agency the authority to respond to alleged violations of the law through a complaint procedure in which an independent contractor’s complaint is provided to a hiring entity for response. The proposed rule would incorporate the complaint procedure in the ordinance into the agency’s procedural rules for enforcement. Additionally, SHRR 140-086(1) Ordinance Specific Procedures would set a 20-day deadline for a hiring entity to respond to a notice of an alleged violation from OLS.

Both the new rules chapter for the ICP Ordinance and the proposed amendment to Chapter 140 can be viewed on the OLS website by clicking here. You can view Chapter 140 in its entirety by clicking here.

Members of the public are invited to comment on the proposed rules and amendment in writing. Written comments must be received no later than 5:00 PM on June 27, 2022.

Comments may be mailed, or delivered to:
Seattle Office of Labor Standards
ATTN: Laine Middaugh, Policy Analyst
810 Third Ave, Suite 375, Seattle, WA, 98104

Or emailed to laborstandards@seattle.gov with the subject line: “Comments: Independent Contractor Protections Ordinance Proposed Rules”.

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