The Oceanside Chamber of Commerce
The Oceanside Chamber's

Member News

Oceanside Chamber of Commerce
  • Oceanside
    • About Oceanside >
      • History of Oceanside
      • Demographics
      • Arts and Culture
      • Education
      • Employment
      • Health Care
      • Religious Organizations
      • Local Government and Services
      • Retiring in Oceanside
      • Oceanside Maps
    • Visitor Information >
      • Beaches
      • Accommodations
      • Groups and Meeting
    • Things to Do >
      • Oceanside Events >
        • Downtown History Walks
        • Farmers Market
        • Sunset Market
      • Shopping >
        • Coupons
      • Dining
      • Surfing
      • Regional Attractions
    • Volunteer Opportunities
  • Business Directory
    • All Categories
    • Coupons
    • New Members
  • Media
    • Advancing Oceanside Podcast
    • Blog
    • Member News
    • E-Newsletter
    • Publications >
      • Advertising Your Business
      • Best of Oceanside Magazine
      • Annual Community Guide
      • Military Publications
  • Chamber
    • Membership >
      • Member Portal
      • Membership Packages
      • Application
      • Testimonials
    • Advocacy >
      • Chamber Political Action Committee
      • Public Policy Guidelines
      • The Advancing Oceanside Report
    • Our Work >
      • 2021 Annual Report
      • 2023 Strategic Priorities
      • Committees - Task Forces - Forums
      • Oceanside Young Professionals
    • Economic Recovery >
      • 2021 Small Business Grant Program
      • 2020 Shop Local Oceanside
      • 2020 North County Cares Program
    • Workforce Development >
      • SOCAL Workforce
    • Kindness
    • Oceanside Leadership Academy
    • Our Team >
      • Board of Directors
      • Chamber Staff
    • Privacy Policy
  • Events
    • Signature Chamber Events >
      • Armed Forces Day Operation Appreciation
      • Heroes of Oceanside and Camp Pendleton
      • Meet the City of Oceanside
      • North County Health Fair
      • Oceanside Senior Expo
      • Rising Star Student Program
    • Monthly Chamber Events
    • Oceanside Community Events
  • Resources
    • Community Resources
    • Local Business Resources
    • Military Resources

Protecting Farmworkers from Criminal Wage Theft

2/22/2023

0 Comments

 
Picture
​By District Attorney Summer Stephan

After the mass shooting in Half Moon Bay in January, the deplorable conditions in which farmworkers live, work and how they are paid came to national attention. One of the points that was highlighted in the subsequent media coverage was the low pay the mushroom farmworkers were receiving. In his trip to Half Moon Bay, California’s Governor saw firsthand the disgraceful working and living conditions of the farmworkers, noting that many were getting paid as little $9 an hour -- well below the state minimum wage of $15.50 an hour.

California is often called the “breadbasket” of the world due to its bountiful harvests. In San Diego County, there are also agriculture and field workers who contribute to the state’s abundance of commodities. California is able to yield such abundance, in part, due to the hard work of a group that is often unnoticed and unappreciated: farmworkers. Unfortunately, this group, which is so vital to our state, also includes some of our community’s most vulnerable and taken advantage workers. They are often underpaid. My office has been at the forefront of protecting workers’ rights. In 2020, we started the Workplace Justice Unit to investigate and prosecute employers who steal labor from their employees. Recent legislation made it clear that wage theft can be a felony crime.

Overtime pay is one of the main issues that affects farmworkers. In 2016, historic legislation was signed into law that gradually eliminated the farmworker exception that exempted agricultural workers from receiving overtime pay. These workers are now eligible for the same overtime benefits extended to all other California hourly workers. This new law was phased in over the course of a seven-year period to give agricultural companies time to adjust their business models to account for increased labor costs.

San Diego County is home to its share of agriculture including avocado groves, flower fields, citrus groves, tomatoes and various vegetable and nursery crops. Here are quick facts for workers, employers, and consumers.
  • Farm workers are entitled to the same protections as all other California workers.
  • Farmworkers are entitled to paid 10-minute rest breaks for every four hours of work, and an unpaid meal break of at least 30 minutes if they work more than five hours.
  • Failure to pay minimum wage, overtime, or to provide meal and rest breaks could amount to criminal wage theft.
  • All employers are required to provide a pay stub to their employees upon request regardless of method of payment.
  • Workers receiving cash pay are entitled to and should request a copy of their pay stub.
  • A review of the pay stub would show the hourly rate, how the worker is classified and that the appropriate taxes are paid.
  • Employees should keep records of hours worked, who they worked with, and any written documentation from their employer.

When it comes to which farmworkers would be most affected by employer theft, it can be anyone, but it’s more prevalent in the murky quasi legal industries like marijuana grows. Those who work in large illegal grows are more likely to be victims of wage theft since there is less oversight of an illegal grow.

Although the focus of this column is farmworkers, wage theft laws are applicable to other industries where exploitation is prevalent, including:
  • Construction
  • Janitorial
  • Nursing homes
  • Restaurants
  • Massage parlors

When wage theft is accompanied by force, fraud or coercion, it can be elevated to the crime of labor trafficking. If you suspect you have been the victim of wage theft, you can report it directly to our office on our Workplace Justice page at www.sandiegoda.com/workplacejustice, by email at workplacejustice@sdcda.org or by calling 1-866-402-6044.
​
As your District Attorney, I am committed to protecting all San Diego County workers, especially those in the agricultural industry, from criminal exploitation and wage theft. Only by safeguarding the rights of our most vulnerable populations can we ensure that those who help provide for us all can also provide for themselves and their families.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    SEARCH NEWS ARCHIVES
    CALCHAMBER NEWS
    ​
    CalChamber Alerts
    CalChamber Advocacy
    CalChamber HR
    Chamber Blog

    news Categories

    All
    Arts & Culture
    BGOC
    Business Advocacy
    Business Workshops
    Careers
    Charitable Events
    Christmas
    City Of Oceanside News
    Coastal Communities
    Community News
    Consumer Column
    COVID 19
    Cox Communications
    CSUSM
    Education
    Events
    Finance
    Frontwave
    Halloween
    Health & Wellness
    Housing
    Kaiser Permanente
    Kids Event
    Local Events
    Local News
    Medical
    Member News
    Military
    MiraCosta Community College
    Networking
    Non Profit
    North County News
    Oceanside Business
    Oceanside Events
    Oceanside News
    Oceanside Public Library
    Political Scene
    Promotions
    Restaurants
    Retail
    Safety
    San Diego County Event
    San Diego County News
    Scripps News
    SDG&E
    Senior Citizens
    Small Business News
    Tax News
    Things To Do
    Transportation
    Tri City News
    Valentine's Day
    Veterans
    Workforce Development

    ​RECENT NEWS

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018

    RSS Feed

Copyright © 2022 Oceanside Chamber of Commerce
928 N. Coast Highway | Oceanside, CA 92054
Tel 760-722-1534 
info@oceansidechamber.com
Privacy Policy
Map/Directions
Picture
  • Oceanside
    • About Oceanside >
      • History of Oceanside
      • Demographics
      • Arts and Culture
      • Education
      • Employment
      • Health Care
      • Religious Organizations
      • Local Government and Services
      • Retiring in Oceanside
      • Oceanside Maps
    • Visitor Information >
      • Beaches
      • Accommodations
      • Groups and Meeting
    • Things to Do >
      • Oceanside Events >
        • Downtown History Walks
        • Farmers Market
        • Sunset Market
      • Shopping >
        • Coupons
      • Dining
      • Surfing
      • Regional Attractions
    • Volunteer Opportunities
  • Business Directory
    • All Categories
    • Coupons
    • New Members
  • Media
    • Advancing Oceanside Podcast
    • Blog
    • Member News
    • E-Newsletter
    • Publications >
      • Advertising Your Business
      • Best of Oceanside Magazine
      • Annual Community Guide
      • Military Publications
  • Chamber
    • Membership >
      • Member Portal
      • Membership Packages
      • Application
      • Testimonials
    • Advocacy >
      • Chamber Political Action Committee
      • Public Policy Guidelines
      • The Advancing Oceanside Report
    • Our Work >
      • 2021 Annual Report
      • 2023 Strategic Priorities
      • Committees - Task Forces - Forums
      • Oceanside Young Professionals
    • Economic Recovery >
      • 2021 Small Business Grant Program
      • 2020 Shop Local Oceanside
      • 2020 North County Cares Program
    • Workforce Development >
      • SOCAL Workforce
    • Kindness
    • Oceanside Leadership Academy
    • Our Team >
      • Board of Directors
      • Chamber Staff
    • Privacy Policy
  • Events
    • Signature Chamber Events >
      • Armed Forces Day Operation Appreciation
      • Heroes of Oceanside and Camp Pendleton
      • Meet the City of Oceanside
      • North County Health Fair
      • Oceanside Senior Expo
      • Rising Star Student Program
    • Monthly Chamber Events
    • Oceanside Community Events
  • Resources
    • Community Resources
    • Local Business Resources
    • Military Resources