CALIFORNIA—On July 6, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced that AB-1583, legislation targeting labor trafficking and wage theft, was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom on June 30.
The bill was co-sponsored by district attorneys of Los Angeles and Sonoma County. It was authored by Assemblymember Chris Rogers, who represents Santa Rosa, and received bipartisan support from Democrats and Republicans, helping the bill pass the California State Legislature; it will take effect on January 1, 2027.
Labor trafficking is a form of human trafficking in which a victim is compelled to perform work for an employer through force, fraud, or coercion. Wage theft occurs when an employer fails to pay a worker the wages, they were legally agreed to receive in exchange for the contracted labor.
Through AB-1583, Section 786.6 is incorporated into the California Penal Code that allows local authorities to prosecute trafficking and wage theft when either occurs within the state as a result of an agreement between a worker and an employer. Cases can be brought if any part of the work occurred in the state. The new legislation will enhance labor protections for immigrants who work in industries such as manufacturing, agriculture, and the garment industry. It will allow prosecutors to bring cases against those accused of labor trafficking or wage theft in multiple jurisdictions within the state, even if the offenses are linked or related.
AB-1583 will be enforced by the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office Economic and Labor Justice Unit (LJU), created to investigate and bring cases against local businesses and employers that commit human trafficking, wage theft, and exploitative labor practices.
