California announces $25 million investment to ensure worker safety, including funds to support LA fire recovery workers
Los Angeles—The Department of Industrial Relations today announced $25 million in funding for the California Workplace Outreach Project (CWOP) to support 89 community-based organizations (CBOs) across the state. This initiative educates workers about their rights and promotes workplace safety.
Twenty-one community groups in the Los Angeles region are set to receive nearly $6 million in funding to support these outreach efforts. This funding will be used to educate and assist workers on critical issues such as health and safety, hazard prevention, immigrant worker protections and wage theft, among other important concerns. This support is crucial for workers involved in the cleanup and rebuilding efforts following the devastating fires.
What California Labor Secretary Stewart Knox said: “California is implementing a unique model that leverages trusted local messengers to communicate directly with workers. This approach enables targeted outreach to critical areas of the state’s workforce, ensuring they are informed about essential protections.”
What Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) Director Katie Hagen said: “California offers a range of services to protect workers, but these resources can go underutilized without proper awareness. CWOP bridges this gap by connecting workers to labor protections through trusted community groups.”
CWOP significantly emphasizes supporting workers in high-risk industries, including those involved in fire debris removal and rebuilding efforts. By equipping workers with essential information and resources, these initiatives aim to promote safer working conditions, ensure compliance with labor laws and safeguard the well-being of those most vulnerable to workplace risks.
Today’s press conference was joined by DIR Director Katie Hagen, Cal/OSHA Chief Debra Lee, Labor Commissioner Lilia García-Brower, IDEPSCA’s Nancy Zuniga, Eddie Sanchez of SoCal COSH, Aurea Recinto of Pilipino Workers Center (PWC) and Sebastian Sanchez of the Labor and Workforce Development Agency.
What IDEPSCA Executive Director Maegan Ortiz said: “Our organization is on the ground, meeting workers where they are and ensuring they receive the critical information needed to protect their rights and safety. These groups form the backbone of our city's workforce and many are doing the hard work of rebuilding our community. We must stand with them.”
Recent findings from the Latino Policy and Politics Institute at UCLA highlight that a significant portion of the Los Angeles workforce impacted by recent fires are Latino, accounting for approximately 36% of all workers in the affected areas. The report also emphasizes that Latinos play a critical role in the rebuilding process, comprising up to 84% of construction workers. These insights underscore the importance of CWOP's efforts to ensure that these workers are engaged through localized and trusted outreach programs. Services are offered in Spanish and multiple languages to ensure accessibility.
About the California Workplace Outreach Project
CWOP is an innovative initiative of DIR that educates and supports California’s most vulnerable workers. In partnership with a network of CBOs, the program provides critical information on workplace protections, labor rights and health and safety measures to workers in high-risk industries.
A recent report from UC Berkeley's Possibility Lab highlighted the significant positive impact of the trusted-messenger model in promoting worker safety and rights. The study found that leveraging trusted local messengers greatly enhances the effectiveness of outreach efforts. This approach ensures that critical information about workplace safety, health protections and workers' rights is communicated in culturally relevant and accessible ways.
Today's announcement marks the first phase of a 2-year funding cycle, set to provide approximately $49 million.
For more information about CWOP, including the list of grant recipients and other details about its initiatives and resources, please visit the official webpage.
Media Contact: Communications@dir.ca.gov, (510) 286-1161