State Labor Commissioner to Fine-Tune AB633
The new California Labor Commissioner, Donna Dell, plans to crack down on “underground economy” violators as well as help legitimate apparel contractors trying to work by the rules.
Dell met with California Fashion Association members on April 4 to hear their concerns about complying with Assembly Bill 633, the law passed in 1999 that holds manufacturers and contractors accountable for their workers’ wages.
The law requires a slew of paperwork and data that apparel contractors and manufacturers believe goes too far. “People expressed concerns about privacy issues,” Dell said, noting registration forms require people to give their name; social security number; driver’s license number; and the residential addresses of officers, partners or owners. Many people fear this information jeopardizes their personal security or can be used in identity theft.
Another concern is that the paperwork requires manufacturers to reveal the price per garment they pay contractors. Manufacturers did not want this information to be disclosed to other manufacturers and requested that it be revealed only to a hearing officer when necessary.
Dell said she will work to address some of the apparel industry’s concerns about privacy issues.
She also noted that one of her strategies for 2005 is to apprehend more “underground economy” violators by doing more sweeps and gathering more data to apprehendoffenders. —Deborah Belgum
