Immigrant workers announce $1.6 million in labor law violation citations
Fresno, CA -- Today, the Asian Law Caucus (ALC), and Filipino Advocates for Justice (FAJ) announced $1,625,468 in citations issued by the California Labor Commissioner's Bureau of Field Enforcement for labor law violations to the Bedford Care Group, Inc., (Bedford) an assisted living provider with six facilities located in Fresno and Clovis, California. The citation amounts include unpaid minimum wage and overtime, and meal and rest break premiums owed to eleven current and former employees. ALC represents the eleven workers.
"These caregivers were either actively working or on-call 24 hours a day, 6 days a week," said ALC workers' rights attorney, Gina Szeto. "Unfortunately, wage theft is a serious and rampant problem in the caregiving industry. Many caregivers who work in assisted living facilities do not know that they have a right to overtime, meal and rest breaks, and other workplace protections, or are too scared to come forward and file claims."
"These are an amazing group of workers," said FAJ community organizer Fiona Cruz. "It takes a lot of courage to stand up for their rights, and they have been so united in the process."
Individual claims filed by ALC for additional amounts owed to the eleven workers are still pending.
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About the Asian Law Caucus
The Asian Law Caucus was founded in 1972 as the nation's first legal and civil rights Asian American organization. Recognizing that social, economic, political and racial inequalities continue to exist in the United States, ALC is committed to the pursuit of equality and justice for all sectors of our society, with a specific focus directed toward addressing the needs of low-income, immigrant and underserved Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. The Asian Law Caucus is a member of the Asian American Center for Advancing Justice.
Visit: www.asianlawcaucus.org
