is plainly erroneous or inconsistent with this chapter. . (h) Walsh-Healey Public Contracts Act (1) In general Chapter 65 of title 41, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 6512. General standards for applying and interpreting workers' rights (a) Interpretation of protections and exemptions (1) Protections All protections afforded under this chapter to individuals performing any labor, with respect to the manufacture or furnishing of materials, supplies, articles, or equipment under a contract to which this chapter applies, who is an employee of the contractor of such contract, shall be interpreted expansively in favor of such individual or an individual claiming classification as such an individual. (2) Exemptions and exclusions (A) In general All exemptions and exclusions under this chapter shall be interpreted narrowly against the contractor of a contract to which this chapter applies, or person alleged to be such a contractor, and limited in application to those persons or circumstances plainly and unmistakably within the language and spirit of the exemption or exclusion. (B) Clear and convincing evidence Any person asserting the applicability of an exemption or exclusion under this chapter shall prove such applicability by clear and convincing evidence. (b) No-Less-Protection rule (1) In general The Secretary shall not take any action to reduce a protection afforded under this chapter to an individual performing any labor, with respect to the manufacture or furnishing of materials, supplies, articles, or equipment under a contract to which this chapter applies, who is an employee of the contractor of such contract, through any regulation, guidance, opinion, ruling, standard, order, adjudicative decision, or other interpretation from the protection provided to such individual through a prior regulation, guidance, opinion, ruling, standard, order, adjudicative decision, or other interpretation in effect on the day before the date of such action, unless such reduction is explicitly