San Diego City Wire

County and state leaders in San Diego have reported advances in the fight against wage theft, particularly through programs like the Workplace Justice Fund. One program applicant, Sandra Cruz, expressed gratitude for finally receiving justice, stating, “The financial assistance of the Workplace Justice Program is providing me with the hard-earned money I should have received many years ago from my employer.”

County Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer emphasized the importance of holding employers accountable, saying, “When an employer cheats a worker out of fair wages, they cannot afford to pay for their basic needs, which hurts our local economy.” The Office of Labor Standards and Enforcement (OLSE) has been instrumental in assisting workers through initiatives like the Workplace Justice Fund and the Good Faith Restaurant Owners Program.

District Attorney Summer Stephan highlighted the seriousness of wage theft, mentioning, “You start with wage theft abuses… Then you move all the way up to labor trafficking when that wage theft and those abuses escalate to the point of being one of the most serious human rights violations of labor trafficking.” The DA encouraged those who suspect labor trafficking to contact their office for assistance.

Collaboration among various agencies, including the OLSE, the DA’s office, and the Sheriff’s Department, has been key in protecting workers’ rights and holding bad-faith businesses accountable. Employee Rights Center Director Alor Calderón praised the joint efforts, stating, “We are all working together, and we are very proud to see that we are, in part, the connection that brings all these resources together.”

Labor Commissioner Lilia García-Brower also emphasized the importance of collaboration, calling it “the magic” in protecting vulnerable workers and upholding the rights of law-abiding employers.

In recognition of their support for employees, Mujeres Brew House, a female-run and Latina-owned brewery in San Diego, was honored by the OLSE with a certificate. The County continues to work with various organizations to advance workers’ rights and combat wage theft.

Employers and workers seeking information on workers’ rights or wage theft can contact the Office of Labor Standards and Enforcement at 619-531-5129.