Acting Governor Way Signs Legislation Broadening Protections for Immigrant Workers

nj.gov

Acting Governor Way today (8/8) signed legislation that imposes civil penalties on any employers who disclose or threaten to disclose an employee’s immigration status in order to cover up their own labor violations.

State employment laws provide broad protections for employees regardless of their immigration status. However, an employee may be reluctant to report employer violations due to fear of the employer revealing their immigration status. This bill mandates that any employer who threatens an employee with exposing their immigration status or discloses their immigration status to authorities in order to conceal wage violations or other violations will face civil penalties, in addition to any existing penalties for the underlying employment violations.