CALIFORNIA – Highly anticipated proposed legislation that would have ensured garment workers in the state of California are afforded a minimum wage has fallen through, as it failed to come up for a vote before the midnight deadline of this year’s legislative session.
SB 1399 by state Senator Maria Elena Durazo, if passed, would have banished the piece-rate pay system which at present robs garment workers of the US$15 minimum wage to which they're entitled, instead affording them closer US$5 per hour.
“I’m disheartened that SB1399 did not prevail in the final hours of the legislative session. 2020 has not been the best year,” said Durazo in a statement. “As we regroup to plan for the upcoming legislative session, our commitment to garment workers will continue to be a priority, because every day wage theft continues to cheat workers out of their pay.”
