奥巴马要求扩大加班费适用人群范围

奥巴马要求扩大加班费适用人群范围

 　　WASHINGTON, March 13 (Xinhua)-- U.S. President Barack Obama on Thursday directed the Secretary of Labor¹ to revamp the overtime² pay rules with an aim to expand it to millions of Americans, the latest move by the administration to promote economic equality.

　　"Today, millions of Americans aren't getting the extra pay they deserve. That's because an exception that was originally meant for high-paid, white-collar employees now covers workers earning as little as 23,660 U.S. dollars a year," Obama said during a White House event, referring to the so-called "white collar" exemption³ in the overtime pay rules which makes the executive, administrative⁴, and professional employees not eligible⁵ for extra work payment.

　　"It doesn't make sense that in some cases this rule actually makes it possible for salaried workers to be paid less than the minimum wage," he noted⁶.

　　According to the White House, salaried workers who make more than 455 dollars a week and those who fall within the "white collar" exemptions⁷ are ineligible⁸ for overtime pay. Only 12 percent of salaried workers fall below the threshold that would guarantee them overtime protections.

　　In the signed memorandum⁹, Obama instructed the Labor Secretary to update regulations regarding who qualifies for overtime protection. The memorandum was one of executive actions taken by the President so far this year, underscoring his pledge to bypass the Congress when necessary to act on his own to push forward his agenda.

　　Improving the overtime regulations consistent with the memorandum the President signed on Thursday could benefit " millions of people who are working harder but falling further behind," the White House said.

1 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

2 overtime   

adj.超时的，加班的；adv.加班地

参考例句：

• They are working overtime to finish the work.为了完成任务他们正在加班加点地工作。
• He was paid for the overtime he worked.他领到了加班费。

3 exemption   

n.豁免，免税额，免除

参考例句：

• You may be able to apply for exemption from local taxes.你可能符合资格申请免除地方税。
• These goods are subject to exemption from tax.这些货物可以免税。

4 administrative   

adj.行政的，管理的

参考例句：

• The administrative burden must be lifted from local government.必须解除地方政府的行政负担。
• He regarded all these administrative details as beneath his notice.他认为行政管理上的这些琐事都不值一顾。

5 eligible   

adj.有条件被选中的；(尤指婚姻等)合适(意)的

参考例句：

• He is an eligible young man.他是一个合格的年轻人。
• Helen married an eligible bachelor.海伦嫁给了一个中意的单身汉。

6 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

7 exemptions   

n.（义务等的）免除( exemption的名词复数 )；免（税）；（收入中的）免税额

参考例句：

• The exemptions for interpretive rules, policy statements, and procedural rules have just been discussed. 有关解释性规则、政策说明和程序规则的免责我们刚刚讨论过。 来自英汉非文学 - 行政法
• A: The regulation outlines specific exemptions for some WPM. 答：该规定概述了某些木质包装材料的特定的例外情形。 来自互联网

8 ineligible   

adj.无资格的，不适当的

参考例句：

• The new rules have made thousands more people ineligible for legal aid.新规定使另外数千人不符合接受法律援助的资格。
• The country had been declared ineligible for World Bank lending.这个国家已被宣布没有资格获得世界银行的贷款。

9 memorandum   

n.备忘录，便笺

参考例句：

• The memorandum was dated 23 August,2008.备忘录上注明的日期是2008年8月23日。
• The Secretary notes down the date of the meeting in her memorandum book.秘书把会议日期都写在记事本上。