The Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Wednesday to launch a new office to educate workers and businesses about minimum wage requirements and labor protections to enforce local labor laws.
The new entity will be called the Office of Labor Standards Enforcement, a countywide clearinghouse for accurate and up-to-date information on laws affecting low-wage workers.
“The county's economic health depends on industries that tend to pay low wages, including the food service industry, personal care and service industries, janitorial maintenance and healthcare support operations,” said Dave Pine, president of the county. Board of Supervisors.
“Having an internal Office of Labor Standards Compliance will allow the County to strengthen worker protections, especially for our most vulnerable and at-risk workers,” he added.
The resolution was jointly introduced by Chairman Pine and Supervisor Ray Mueller.
?The creation of the Office of Labor Standards Compliance is an important step forward in San Mateo County, ensuring that small business owners have the up-to-date information and resources they need to comply with changing state regulatory laws and locals?, highlighted Müller.
Likewise, he said that the office will also provide workers with a crucial partner to protect their rights and ensure that the most vulnerable are not exploited.
In approving the resolution, the Board promised that specific attention would be paid to low-income workers, those from vulnerable populations such as women, people of color, immigrants, those who identify as LGBTQIA+, refugees, and people with disabilities.
Mueller said the county could establish a tip line for workers and businesses seeking information or assistance with labor compliance or workplace issues.
Notably, 11 of the 20 cities in San Mateo County have their own locally established minimum wage laws.
The announcement of the new office comes after it was announced that, starting January 1, 2024, the minimum wage will increase from $16.50 to $17.06 per hour in unincorporated areas.
The new office is expected to become operational on July 1, 2024, with an initial focus on education.
A study carried out by the Economic Policy Institute, a nonprofit research group based in Washington, D.C., found that violations of minimum wage laws alone “exceed the value of property crimes committed in the United States each year.”
Educational and outreach materials provided by the Office of Labor Standards Compliance for both workers and employers will be in multiple languages.
"This is something that we in the labor community have been advocating for since 2014. This labor of love will be an incredible resource for our community and is something that can't come soon enough," said Julie Lind, executive secretary of the Labor Council. San Mateo County Central.
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