San Diego City Wire

A new $750,000 grant will strengthen San Diego County’s efforts to combat employers who deny workers their rightfully earned pay. The two-year state grant will support the salaries of a prosecutor, an investigator, and a paralegal to review wage theft cases for criminal or civil violations.

The District Attorney’s Office, County Counsel, and the County’s Office of Labor Standards and Enforcement (OLSE) will collaborate to help wage theft victims recover lost wages. Vulnerable groups such as low-wage earners, women, people of color, non-English speakers, and foreign-born individuals are particularly at risk. Many affected individuals are unaware of how to reclaim their earnings.

“Wage theft is a grave injustice that affects many in San Diego County, especially our most vulnerable workers,” said County Board Chairwoman Nora Vargas. “This grant empowers us to strengthen our efforts to protect workers’ rights and hold employers accountable for exploitation.”

San Diego County experiences approximately $2 million in wage theft losses annually.

“We are holding companies accountable that steal money from their workers and fail to pay the wages they have been promised,” said Board Vice Chair Terra Lawson-Remer. “We established the County’s Office of Labor Standards to protect workers and this new program to prosecute bad employers is a significant step forward. I am thankful California’s Labor Commissioner awarded us this funding; OLSE will put it to good use and help as many people as possible.”

The County’s Office of Labor Standards and Enforcement was established in 2021 to educate employers and workers about employment laws and workers’ rights. The office administers the Workplace Justice Fund which has helped 34 victims of wage theft.

The DA’s Workplace Justice Unit was also created in 2021 and was one of the first in California to investigate and prosecute criminal wage theft cases.

“Wage theft is oppressive and impacts the livelihood and dignity of hard-working people. This is why it has been a priority for our office to hold those who steal wages accountable through felony wage theft prosecutions,” said District Attorney Summer Stephan. “With this grant, we will be able to expand our efforts in partnership with our county partners and further protect workers. I want to thank California’s Labor Commissioner Lilia Garcia-Brower for her trust in us and awarding us this valuable grant.”

The DA’s office investigates criminal wage theft cases; County Counsel addresses labor law violations through civil enforcement actions; OLSE educates employers about labor laws and informs workers about their rights.

“Wage theft victims in San Diego County are not alone. There is help.” said OLSE Director Branden Butler. “People have a right to the wages they’ve earned, and we’re here to help workers recover the money they are owed.”

For more information on workers’ rights or wage theft, contact the Office of Labor Standards and Enforcement at 619-531-5129 or call the DA workplace justice hotline at 1-866-402-6044.

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