California Labor Commissioner's Office, U.S. Department of Labor Offer Farm Labor Contractor Information at Fresno Event

USA - English

• USA - español

FRESNO, Calif., Oct. 6, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The California Labor Commissioner's Office and the U.S. Department of Labor are co-hosting an informational meeting for farm labor contractors (FLCs) in the Central Valley. Members of the public are invited to meet with state and federal experts to discuss the requirements for obtaining FLC licenses.

"Farmworkers are the backbone of California's agricultural economy, and farm labor contractors must be licensed in order to ensure that they know and agree to comply with applicable workplace safety and labor laws that protect our state's workers," said Christine Baker, Director of the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR). The Labor Commissioner's Office, officially known as the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE), is a division of DIR.

Friday's session in Fresno will give FLCs and the public a chance to ask questions about the application process. The Labor Commissioner's office in Fresno offers free FLC workshops every Friday.

What: FLC Information Session
Date and Time: October 9, 2015, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Location: California Labor Commissioner's Office in Fresno    
770 E. Shaw Avenue, Ste. 222
Fresno, CA 93710

"Our goal with this and all of our workshops is to help contractors navigate the FLC licensing process so employers who play by the rules can do so as easily as possible," said Labor Commissioner Julie A. Su. "Growers who contract with unregistered FLCs are automatically liable for any wage theft and related violations committed by the FLC."

California's Labor Code defines FLCs as individuals or organizations who, for a fee, hire, recruit, or provide board and/or lodging or transportation to people who perform work on farms. The Labor Code requires FLCs to be licensed by the Labor Commissioner's office. Information about the FLC licensing process is available in English and Spanish on the DIR website.

The Labor Commissioner's office in Fresno has a kiosk that contractors can reserve to upload the necessary documentation for the licensing application. FLCs who applied via mail in the past can access their full applications online to easily and more quickly renew. Contractors are invited to join the FLC subscription list to get updates about the licensing process.

Among its wide-ranging enforcement responsibilities, the Labor Commissioner's Office inspects workplaces for wage and hour violations, adjudicates wage claims, enforces prevailing wage rates and apprenticeship standards in public works projects, investigates retaliation complaints, issues licenses and registrations for businesses and educates the public on labor laws.

The Wage Theft is a Crime public awareness campaign, launched last year by DIR and its Labor Commissioner's Office, has helped inform workers of their rights. The campaign includes multilingual print and outdoor advertising as well as radio commercials on ethnic stations in English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Hmong and Tagalog.

Employees with work-related questions or complaints may contact DIR's Call Center in English or Spanish at 844-LABOR-DIR (844-522-6734). The California Workers' Information line at 866-924-9757 also offers recorded information in English and Spanish on a variety of work-related topics.

The California Department of Industrial Relations, established in 1927, protects and improves the health, safety, and economic well-being of over 18 million wage earners, and helps their employers comply with state labor laws. DIR is housed within the Labor & Workforce Development Agency. For general inquiries, contact DIR's Communications Call Center at 1-844-LABOR-DIR (1-844-522-6734) for help in locating the appropriate division or program in our department.

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SOURCE California Department of Industrial Relations, California Labor Commissioner's Office

Related Links

http://www.dir.ca.gov/