LOS ANGELES—The Los Angeles Worker Center Network (LAWCN) is pleased to announce the successful passage of the Chief Legislative Analyst’s recommendations on strengthening the Office of Wage Standards (OWS) at yesterday’s meeting of the Economic Development and Jobs Committee.
Thanks to the collective advocacy of LAWCN’s diverse network of worker centers and the strong presence of workers and community partners, the committee not only adopted the full CLA report but also voted to direct the City Attorney to draft additional amendments to update the ordinance. These amendments will prioritize low-wage workers earning two thirds or less of the median household income, expand OWS authority to enforce overtime, meal break, rest break, and late pay violations, grant administrative subpoena authority, require a prioritization index for complaints, create a public repository of completed investigations, strengthen targeted enforcement in high violation industries, develop strategies for individual liability, expand information sharing with community based organizations, and explore deeper co-enforcement with Los Angeles County.
We appreciate the thoughtful consideration of the committee members, including Councilmembers Hugo Soto-Martínez (CD13), Ysabel Jurado (CD14), and Curren Price (CD9), who voted in support, as well as Councilmember Adrin Nazarian (CD2), who abstained, and Councilmember Traci Park (CD11), who voted no.
This is a major step forward in building a stronger and more effective enforcement system for Los Angeles workers and a victory for workers who make up some of the most impacted communities in Los Angeles.
LAWCN members include CLEAN Carwash Worker Center, Garment Worker Center, Koreatown Immigrant Workers Alliance, Los Angeles Black Worker Center, Pilipino Workers Center, Warehouse Worker Resource Center, UCLA Labor Center, and Bet Tzedek Legal Services.