The Vista City Council has voted in favor of a rule to require employers who hire day laborers to register. The measure could go into effect by the end of July. City officials say the new rule will protect day laborers. However, critics say workers' best interests are not the motivation. KPBS Reporter Amy Isackson has details.
Vista's City Attorney Darold Pieper says the ordinance aims to protect day laborers from unscrupulous employers. He says he didn't consult Vista's day laborers when he crafted the measure, but instead based it on three national studies that detail problems day laborers face.
Problems with workers who are frequently abandoned at job sites, they believe they've contracted for one rate of pay but are not paid in accordance.
Piper says in addition to registering with the city, the ordinance would require employers to give workers their contact information and the terms of the job in writing.
However, Claudia Smith with the California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation says the ordinance's real objective is to eliminate curbside hiring altogether which has long been considered an eyesore. Amy Isackson, KPBS News.
