Headlines:
DOL Proposes Rule on Figuring out Worker/Unbiased Contractor Standing – The Division of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division issued a proposed rule that will rescind the evaluation for figuring out worker or impartial contractor standing beneath the Honest Labor Requirements Act and change it with evaluation that it revealed and adopted in a previous last rule.
U.S. Embassies Replace Journey Advisories in Center East in Response to Elevated Dangers and Armed Battle – U.S. Embassies have issued new safety alerts and up to date journey advisories for a number of international locations in response to unrest and armed battle within the Center East area. The U.S.-Israeli navy operation in Iran and associated dangers elsewhere within the area are quickly evolving.
Advocacy Group Feedback on Non secular Staff Interim Remaining Rule – The American Immigration Attorneys Affiliation welcomed the rule and made options.
Particulars:
DOL Proposes Rule on Figuring out Worker/Unbiased Contractor Standing
On February 27, 2026, the Division of Labor’s (DOL) Wage and Hour Division issued a proposed rule that will rescind the evaluation for figuring out worker or impartial contractor standing beneath the Honest Labor Requirements Act (FLSA) and change it with evaluation that it revealed and adopted in a previous last rule dated January 7, 2021, with a couple of modifications. DOL additionally proposes to use this evaluation to the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Employee Safety Act, which contains the FLSA’s scope of employment.
Amongst different provisions, the proposed rule would come with:
- A provision discussing the “financial actuality” take a look at for distinguishing FLSA workers from impartial contractors, together with that the final word inquiry of financial dependence activates whether or not a person is in enterprise for him- or herself (impartial contractor) or is economically depending on an employer for work (worker) (DOL is moreover proposing to supply additional context on the that means of financial dependence); and
- Provisions describing elements examined as a part of the financial actuality take a look at, together with two core or major elements—the character and diploma of the person’s management over the work and the person’s alternative for revenue or loss.
DOL mentioned it welcomes feedback on the inclusion of further context on financial dependence into the laws explaining that “financial dependence for work quite than financial dependence for revenue is the correct inquiry.” Particularly, DOL has added the next sentences to the tip of the proposed § 795.105(b):
Although each workers and impartial contractors are depending on others in some sense, financial dependence on this context means the dependence {that a} typical worker has on an employer for work, versus a person who has extra of the character and character of a enterprise proprietor who has a separate enterprise. Financial dependence doesn’t concentrate on the quantity of revenue the employee earns, or whether or not the employee has different sources of revenue.
Feedback on the proposed rule are due by April 28, 2026, through one of many strategies supplied within the discover.
U.S. Embassies Replace Journey Advisories in Center East in Response to Elevated Dangers and Armed Battle
U.S. embassies have issued new safety alerts and up to date journey advisories for a number of international locations in response to unrest and armed battle within the Center East area:
- The U.S. Embassy Digital Iran introduced that attributable to navy operations and different dangers, U.S. residents in Iran are suggested to shelter in place all through the nation till additional discover. A journey advisory states that “U.S. residents are in danger attributable to terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, arbitrary detention of U.S. residents, torture, and wrongful detention.” U.S. residents mustn’t journey to Iran for any cause and may depart Iran if they’re there. Iran continues to be a Stage 4 “Do Not Journey” vacation spot. The Overseas Pursuits Part of the Swiss Embassy in Tehran gives emergency companies for U.S. residents. Any U.S. residents looking for routine companies ought to make an appointment at a U.S. embassy or consulate exterior of Iran, the embassy mentioned.
- The U.S. Embassy in Lebanon up to date its journey advisory, noting that on February 23, 2026, the Division of State ordered the departure of non-emergency U.S. authorities personnel and relations of presidency personnel as a result of safety scenario in Beirut. The advisory features a Stage 4 “Do Not Journey” warning for Lebanon “attributable to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, unexploded landmines, and the danger of armed battle. Some areas, particularly close to the borders, have elevated danger.” The advisory additionally mentions blocked roads and different hazards. U.S. Embassy Beirut has suspended routine consular companies and advises that “Individuals ought to contact beirutacs@state.gov in case of emergency,” noting that they need to “not depend on the U.S. authorities for assisted departure or evacuation.” Further data is obtainable on Lebanon’s Nation Data web page.
- Israel, the West Financial institution, and Gaza. The U.S. Embassy has issued a safety alert directing all U.S. authorities workers and their relations to shelter in place till additional discover. U.S. residents can discover further data concerning steps to soak up case of mortar and rocket hearth and hostile plane intrusion within the Nation Data for Israel, the West Financial institution, and Gaza. The most recent journey advisory, issued on February 27, 2026, places Israel at Stage 3. The advisory says to “rethink journey” to Israel and the West Financial institution, and to not journey to Gaza, Northern Israel, and the Israel-Egypt border area.
- The U.S. Embassy in Doha issued a safety alert implementing a shelter-in-place order for all personnel countrywide. The embassy mentioned, “We advocate all Individuals do the identical till additional discover.”
The U.S.-Israeli navy operation in Iran and associated dangers elsewhere within the area are quickly evolving. Journey advisories and safety alerts could also be up to date with little discover and must be monitored. The advisories embody further data, hyperlinks, and cellphone numbers for U.S. residents.
Advocacy Group Feedback on Non secular Staff Interim Remaining Rule
On February 25, 2026, the American Immigration Attorneys Affiliation (AILA) submitted feedback on an interim last rule from the Division of Homeland Safety (DHS) that reduces the required time overseas for non secular staff.
AILA mentioned it welcomed the rule, which reduces the time frame non secular staff should stay exterior the USA after exhausting the five-year restrict in R-1 nonimmigrant standing to ensure that them to change into eligible for a subsequent interval of R-1 standing. Amongst its options, AILA beneficial that DHS take into account permitting a reset of the five-year most beneath any of the next circumstances: (1) if a spiritual employee modifications employers, (2) if the non secular employee stays with the identical employer and departs the USA after having accomplished the preliminary 30 months of R-1 standing, (3) if there are 6 months or a 12 months remaining on the 5 12 months clock, or (4) if a spiritual employee departs the USA over the last 12 months of the five-year most interval.
