OLYMPIA — Gov. Bob Ferguson signed legislation to increase workplace protections for immigrant communities Monday.
Senate Bill 5104, sponsored by Sen. Bob Hasegawa (D-Tukwila), shields employees from coercion in the workplace based on immigration status.
“We’re facing a crisis across the state and country,” Hasegawa said. “Immigration status is being weaponized against permanent residents, citizens, refugees, asylum seekers, students, and more — the workplace is no exception.”
This legislation ensures employers cannot withhold earned pay, rest and meal breaks, fair pay, and other protected workers’ rights while threatening to report employees or their families to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Employees could report employers to the Department of Labor and Resources, which would then investigate. Employers found violating the law would face a civil penalty of $1,000 for a first violation, $5,000 for a second, and $10,000 for any subsequent offenses.
“Without this law, we could see, and have seen, employers threaten to call ICE on any employee or their family unless they agree to give up pay they’ve earned, work for sub-minimum wages, forced overtime, in dangerous conditions, or without rest breaks,” Hasegawa said. “Given ICE’s current operations, this could be weaponized by nearly any employer. This bill goes beyond helping immigrant communities — it protects every employee in the state.”
The legislation goes into effect July 1, 2025.
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