Former U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai and former Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su wrote an article for The American Prospect on why Global Working Conditions Matter for American Workers. They argue that the ILAB cuts will allow abuse of workers overseas as well as suppress wages of American workers.
Ironically, the Trump administration has acknowledged wage suppression as a form of unfair competition in its memorandum on reciprocal trade. Yet a few days ago, Musk’s DOGE team unilaterally cut ILAB’s existing grants that go to fighting forced labor and child labor. …
The cuts to DOL mean workers in the U.S. and workers abroad are more likely to suffer abuses. American businesses will lack the information they need to make informed decisions about sourcing and investment. American consumers will be more likely to unwittingly purchase products produced under inhumane conditions. American workers will be trapped in a destructive race to the bottom, suppressing wages everywhere.