WASHINGTON, D.C.: A federal judge has struck down Labor Department regulations that extended minimum wage and overtime pay to home health care workers.
U.S. District Judge Richard Leon said the rules conflict with federal law that has long exempted third-party providers of in-home care for the elderly and disabled from complying with minimum wage and overtime laws.
President Barack Obama had announced the rules in 2011 as part of his effort to boost the economy and help about 2 million home care workers without going through Congress. They were set to go into effect next year.
But the home care industry trade groups sued, arguing that higher wages would destabilize the industry and make it tougher for families to afford care for aging parents.
Worker advocacy groups had pushed for the higher wages, saying many home care workers live at or below the poverty level.
Labor Department spokesman Carl Fillichio said the agency strongly disagrees with the decision and is considering an appeal…
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