OLYMPIA – Legislation sponsored by Sen. Bob Hasegawa (D-Tukwila) to strengthen workers’ protections was acted upon in the Senate Labor & Commerce Committee Friday and referred to the Rules Committee Monday. This bill ensures employers cannot use an employee’s immigration status, or that of their family, to coerce the employee.
“This bill is about fairness and respect for individuals as workers,” Hasegawa noted. “Not only do immigrants contribute significantly to our economy as laborers, but they also pay an estimated $2.3 billion in taxes.”
Senate Bill 5104 bars employers from coercing employees into sub-minimum wages or illegal working conditions based on the employee’s, or their family’s, immigration status.
“There’s a huge imbalance of power in a workplace from the get-go. Employers always have the leverage in any employer-employee relationship, because they control the money, but it’s compounded by the fact that they can threaten to turn employees or their family members over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement if they complain about illegal or unsafe practices in their workplace,” said Hasegawa.
The Department of Labor and Industries must investigate coercion claims and employees found in violation of the law are subject up to $1,000 for a first offense, $5,000 for a second offense, and $10,000 for any additional offense.