Relating To Employer Information.
The bill allows DBEDT to conduct various information gathering methods, including surveys and censuses, that assess the employment landscape of Hawaii which encompasses residents, migrants, and visitors. It also emphasizes the importance of confidentiality, indicating that information identifiable to individuals will be protected from public disclosure, unless shared with governmental entities under specific circumstances. This provision aims to balance the state's need for comprehensive labor data with the protection of individual privacy and business competitiveness.
House Bill 2081 aims to amend Section 201-13.8 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes to enhance the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism's (DBEDT) capability to collect and analyze employer information and employment practices across the state. The bill's main focus is on gathering pertinent data, which includes details on wages, hours worked, and working conditions from all employers subject to chapter 371. This statistical data collection is intended to support sound economic research and analysis for better state policy formulation and economic planning.
Notably, there could be contention surrounding the balance between data collection and the potential burden placed on employers. While the collection of such data can lead to significant insights for state economic development, employers might raise concerns regarding the compliance costs associated with maintaining detailed records and potentially disclosing sensitive information. The requirement for employers to hold records for five years and to provide them on demand could be seen as an additional regulatory obligation, which may be met with resistance, particularly from smaller businesses.