Title
Authorizing the Committee on Licenses and Inspections to conduct hearings to investigate the underground economy.
Body
WHEREAS, The underground economy in Philadelphia involves businesses and individuals from a wide range of labor intensive sectors, including janitorial services, home care, transportation, trucking, delivery services and construction; and
WHEREAS, The underground economy is defined as any business or individual that operates without obtaining the necessary licenses; does not pay required taxes; fails to carry required insurance and worker's compensation coverage; forces workers into unsafe working conditions; or, in an attempt to gain a competitive economic advantage, avoids its responsibilities to pay taxes and protect working people; and
WHEREAS, In 2007, the Philadelphia City Controller identified a pressing need for the City of Philadelphia to curb the underground economy in the construction industry by enforcing long-standing employment laws, ensuring compliance with protections for working people, and eliminating unfair competitive advantage from contractors in the underground economy; and
WHEREAS, In 2013, the City of Philadelphia took steps to address the illegal activities of the underground economy after enacting Bill 120776 and Bill 120775-AA, which established appropriate licensing requirements and enforcement procedures for persons performing construction work in Philadelphia, and established that all persons on construction sites be appropriately and lawfully classified as licensed contractors pursuant to Title 9 or the employees of licensed contractors pursuant to Title 9 and in accordance with Federal, State and Local law; and
WHEREAS, Despite these efforts, the underground economy in Philadelphia is thriving as Philadelphia is experiencing a construction boom that has resulted in a recent wave of developers and construction contractors - many from out-of-state - taking advantage of Philadelphia's relatively inexpensive and...
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