LABOR + EMPLOYMENT
A Voice for Low-Wage Workers in the State Capitol
CRLAF’s Labor and Employment Project carries out policy-oriented research and farmworker field surveys, conducts legislative and administrative advocacy in the wage and hour, unemployment insurance, and farmworker law areas, both at state and federal levels, and provides training, technical assistance and advocacy support to California legal services programs.
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​Each year, the Project tracks approximately 60 state and federal bills, and supports or sponsors various bills to expand labor law protections for agricultural and other rural, low-wage workers, and opposes legislation that threaten such protections.
For several years, the Project has and continues to work in close collaboration with California Rural Legal Assistance Inc. (CRLA) to monitor H-2A job orders; a high percentage of which are found to contain false or misleading information that violates California law. CRLAF then follows up with all relevant governmental agencies to ensure employers’ greater compliance and stricter regulation of job orders.
The Project’s chief objectives are:
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To expand state labor laws affecting the rights of farmworkers and other low-wage workers.
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To improve and reform state labor law enforcement efforts, particularly in the underground economy.
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To take a leadership role in opposing legislative or regulatory efforts to weaken new or existing labor rights that impact low-wage workers, especially farmworkers and their families.
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To undertake related legal and public policy research, education and media efforts.
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To initiate training of advocates, attorneys and agency staff about CRLAF-sponsored labor laws.
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To monitor guest worker admissions into California under the federal H-2A program.
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To participate in national advocacy efforts around guest worker programs and farmworker legalization.​​