In a significant legislative move, New Jersey has enhanced protections for immigrant workers who expose labor violations.
Last week, Lt. Governor Tahesha Way signed a landmark law aimed at safeguarding these workers from retaliation by their employers.
The new legislation imposes penalties of up to $10,000 on employers who disclose or threaten to disclose an employee’s immigration status to government authorities in an effort to suppress reports of violations related to wages, benefits, or taxes.
This legal measure, enacted through Bill S2869, seeks to prevent employers from using immigration status as a tool to intimidate and silence workers who report unfair practices.
State Senate Majority Leader Teresa Ruiz, a key sponsor of the bill, expressed the significance of the new law.
“By establishing a penalty for employers who weaponize an employee’s immigration status against them to violate the law, we will protect workers’ rights and hold businesses accountable for exploitative behavior,” said Ruiz. She co-sponsored the legislation with Senator Angela McKnight.
This development is part of New Jersey’s broader effort to strengthen worker protections and ensure that all employees, regardless of their immigration status, can report labor violations without fear of retaliation.
