[kazinator]

> but have you ever been truly poor

If poor people are whom these meddlesome laws are supposed to protect, then draft the laws that way.

Someone who is not poor doesn't want to be screwed over by some protect-the-poor labor law.

E.g. it could be that a freelancer must be considered an employee if they are paid peanuts. If they are amply compensated, then not.

Various other kinds of labor laws could be sensitive to compensation. Nobody should be required to work without a break. But some consultant taking $200/hr from you should probably not be entitled to 8 hours pay for 7.5 hours work, with a paid 30 minute lunch period.

Work safety should be non-negotiable. Anyone working on your site should be safe, highly paid or not.