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ARTICLE · 11 MARCH 2025

FTC Puts Spotlight On Worker Protections, Departs From Past GOP Practices

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The Federal Trade Commission has indicated it will place more attention and resources on labor markets with the creation of a joint task force dedicated to protecting American workers.

United StatesAntitrust/Competition Law
Rachel J. Lamorte
Rachel J. Lamorte
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The Federal Trade Commission has indicated it will place more attention and resources on labor markets with the creation of a joint task force dedicated to protecting American workers.

FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson wrote in a memo to staff last week that the task force is intended to scrutinize unfair and anticompetitive labor practices, including no-poach, nonsolicitation, no-hire and noncompete agreements, as well as wage fixing. The task force will also examine illegal coordination on diversity, equity and inclusion metrics, Feguson wrote.

The attention on labor markets is somewhat of a departure for Republican-led FTCs, attorneys said.

"I think the announcement of the task force shows that antitrust enforcement in labor markets is a bipartisan priority," said Jenner & Block partner Chris Abbott. "It indicates that aggressive antitrust enforcement will likely continue through this administration, something that may surprise those more familiar with the

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