May 02, 2025 | Sacramento, CA — MedLegalNews.com — The California Labor Commissioner’s Office (LCO) has launched the second year of its Workers’ Rights Enforcement Grant Program, reinforcing its commitment to combating wage theft, unfair labor practices, and employer misconduct. For 2025, up to $8.55 million in competitive grants will be distributed to local prosecutors with active enforcement programs aimed at civil and criminal prosecution of wage theft, worker misclassification, unfair competition, and retaliation.
Supporting Prosecutors in Fighting Labor Violations
The workers rights enforcement grant strengthens the legal tools available to public prosecutors. Eligible applicants include District Attorneys, City Attorneys, and County Counsels with the authority to bring civil or criminal enforcement actions. The funding helps support investigations, litigation, and restitution efforts for victims of labor law violations.workers’
Labor Commissioner Lilia García-Brower emphasized the seriousness of the campaign:
“As we enter the second year of this grant program, we’re doubling down with local prosecutors to hold labor law violators accountable through criminal and civil prosecutions.”
Key Program Details
- Total Available Funding: $8,550,000
- Maximum Award per Prosecutor: $750,000
- Eligible Applicants:
- District Attorneys
- City Attorneys
- County Counsels
- Local prosecutors with workers’ rights enforcement divisions
- Allowable Uses:
- Staff salaries and benefits for enforcement
- Up to 5% for required audits
Application Timeline
- Opens: May 1, 2025
- Closes: June 2, 2025 at 5:00 PM
- Award Announcement: July 1, 2025
- Funding Period: August 1, 2025 – July 31, 2026
Allowable Uses
Grant funds may be used for staff salaries, investigative costs, litigation support, and program-related audits (capped at 5%). Prosecutors are encouraged to review the recorded February 2024 virtual information session for best practices.
San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan praised the program’s impact, noting that it “enhanced prosecution efforts and secured restitution for victims,” while also “protecting law-abiding businesses from being undercut by bad actors.”
Strengthening Workers’ Rights Through Local Enforcement
Since its launch in 2023 with an initial $18 million, the workers rights enforcement grant has empowered local prosecutors to take direct legal action—addressing wage theft, misclassification, labor trafficking, and other forms of exploitation more efficiently. Unlike citations issued solely by state agencies, this program enables local legal action where it is most needed.
To learn more or access the grant application, visit the California Labor Commissioner’s official Wage Theft Grant Program page. For inquiries, contact WageTheftGrant@dir.ca.gov.
Applicants are also encouraged to review materials from the February 2024 virtual information session, which remain available online.
For the latest updates on workplace protections, fraud enforcement, and labor law developments, visit MedLegalNews.com.
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FAQs: Workers Rights Enforcement Grant Program
Who can apply for the Workers’ Rights Enforcement Grant?
Eligible applicants include District Attorneys, City Attorneys, and County Counsels who maintain active workers’ rights enforcement programs.
What kinds of violations does the grant help enforce?
The grant supports legal actions against wage theft, misclassification of employees, unfair competition, and labor trafficking.
What can local prosecutors use the Workers’ Rights Enforcement Grant funding for?
The enforcement grant can be used by local prosecutors to cover staff salaries, investigative resources, and legal proceedings related to wage theft, worker misclassification, and retaliatory labor practices. Up to 5% of the grant may also be allocated for mandatory audits. This funding enables jurisdictions to enhance civil and criminal enforcement against labor law violations.