CA-Labor advocates push for law making wage theft a criminal

Labor advocates push for law making wage theft a criminal offense in L.A.

LA Times
October 26, 2009 | 12:43 pm
By Anna Gorman

Advocates for day laborers and other low-wage workers are pushing for a new city law that would target unscrupulous employers by making wage theft a crime in the city of Los Angeles.

They have found an ally in City Councilman Richard Alarcon, who plans to introduce a motion on Tuesday directing the city attorney’s office to write an ordinance that would criminalize nonpayment of wages.

“People think that just because they pick up somebody on the street or at a day laborer center that they don’t have the responsibility to pay them if they don’t like the work,â€

How about a law prohibiting job theft by illegals?

[quote]“People think that just because they pick up somebody on the street or at a day laborer center that they don’t have the responsibility to pay them if they don’t like the work,â€

This whole thing has become an underground economy. Whether picking up anyone off the street, the employer has the responsibility to make sure they know who they are dealing with. And making E-Verify mandatory for private employers would be a huge step toward some sanity.