Garment Work in California
California has the highest concentration of garment workers in the country and some of the strongest laws protecting workers from wage theft and law-abiding businesses from unfair competition. This page contains information about labor laws in California related to the garment industry.
The Garment Worker Protection Act (SB62)
Registration
Filing a Claim
Questions
Resources
What’s New
The Garment Worker Protection Act (SB62)
Senate Bill 62 (SB 62), also known as the Garment Worker Protection Act, is effective starting on January 1, 2022. The new law addresses proper payment of employees in the garment industry as well as the responsibility for parties contracting to have garment operations performed in several important ways.Starting January 1, 2022, it is illegal for garment workers to be paid piece rate. Garment workers must be paid an hourly rate not less than the minimum wage.
The new law also makes all parties contracting for the performance of garment contracting responsible for the proper payment of garment workers regardless of the layers of contracting.
Resources for the Garment Worker Protection Act
Read more about the Garment Worker Protection Act in our Frequently Asked Questions.
Watch a recording of a training for employers from the Labor Commissioner’s Office on the Garment Worker Protection Act.
Download this video transcript: English, Spanish, Korean
The Labor Commissioner will also send a letter to all registered garment manufacturers describing the law as well as flyers highlighting the key aspects of the law. These materials will be posted on this page once they are available.
Registration
Every entity engaged in garment manufacturing, including contractors and manufacturers, must register with the Labor Commissioner’s Office. To be engaged in garment manufacturing means to perform garment manufacturing operations or to contract with a contractor for those operations.To apply for or renew a garment registration: Apply or renew registration with the Labor Commissioner.
Filing a Claim
Garment Workers can file an individual wage claim to start the process to recover unpaid wages, or report a labor law violation to notify the Labor Commissioner of violations related to a group of workers.
“I worked at a garment factory for a contractor who did not pay me for one week of work. During this time, I produced dresses with two different labels that were then sold by stores with the same name as the labels. When I filed a wage claim with the Labor Commissioner, the Deputy told me that the employer (contractor), the companies contracting directly with the employer for making the garments (manufacturers), and the stores selling the labels (brand guarantors) were all potentially responsible. This meant that the contractor, manufacturers, and potentially the stores were all defendants in my claim and responsible for paying me my wages.”
Questions
If you have questions related to garment manufacturing in California, please contact us at LCOgarment@dir.ca.gov.Resources:
- SB62
- Frequently Asked Questions about a new law making it illegal to pay garment workers piece rate starting January 1, 2022.
- Video recording of a training for employers on SB62 https://youtu.be/Gy2gAtwFB_c Download this video transcript: English
- Registration:
- Apply or renew registration
- Garment Exam Study Guides
- English/Garment Manufacturer Registration Examination Study Guide
- Spanish/Guía de Estudio Para el Examen de Registro de Fabricante de Prendas de Vestir
- Korean/의류제조업자면허시험학습안내서
- Chinese/服装制造执照考试学习指南
- Vietnamese/Hướng Dẫn Ôn Thi Lấy Giấy Phép Sản Xuất Hàng May Mặc
- Additional Garment registration exam study materials:
- Important information and instructions for registration as Garment Manufacturers and Contractors
- Rules and Regulations - Garment Manufacturing Industry
- Summary of Basic California and Federal Employment Requirements for Garment Industry Employers
- Examination Study Materials - Pertinent Regulations Governing Occupational Safety and Health (full version)
- Workplace Injury & Illness Prevention Program (January, 2021)
- The Laws Relating to the Time, Manner and Payment of Wages
- Wage Order No. 1-2001 - Manufacturing Industry
- Pay Day Notice
- Filing Claims
What's New
- Labor Commissioner Updates Garment Regulations Based on the Garment Worker Protection Act (SB 62)
- Labor Commissioner Revokes Garment Manufacturer’s License for Labor Law Violations and Informs Employers of New Law for 2022
- California’s Minimum Wage to Increase to $15 per Hour for Large Employers, $14 per Hour for Small Employers
- California Labor Commissioner Launches Online Wage Claim Application
November 2023