Click here to download a high resolution photo from the Comptroller's Immigrant Outreach Initiative meeting

New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr. today brought together three dozen leaders of immigrant and ethnic advocacy groups and associations to create community-based partnerships by raising awareness about workers' rights and combating prevailing wage violations in the City.

The "Immigrant Outreach Initiative" is being undertaken to ensure that contractors do not exploit hardworking New Yorkers by skirting prevailing wage laws.

"I am firmly committed to ensuring that the City enforces the prevailing wage laws. Many of those who are being treated unfairly are newly arrived immigrants encountering language barriers and are unaware of the laws that are in place to protect them," Comptroller Thompson said.

"Workers often are too intimidated to step forward and file complaints against their employers," Thompson said. "I want to create an environment in which workers can communicate their circumstances in their own language to people who understand their concerns, and ensure that workers are put in contact with the appropriate government agency."

The Comptroller's Bureau of Labor Law enforces New York State Labor Law §220 and 230 and New York City Administrative Code §6-109, which require private sector contractors engaged in public work projects in the City to pay no less than the prevailing wage to their employees. The Office also issues prevailing wage schedules, or wage rates, for various types of trades and occupations.

The Bureau attempts to recover money for workers who were not paid the appropriate wages. Depending on the circumstances, a contractor may be barred from bidding on or being given any public work within the State of New York for five years. Cases also may be referred to a District Attorney.

Under the outreach program, Thompson's office will issue bilingual pamphlets translated into several languages, including Spanish, Chinese, Polish, Russian, Urdu, and Greek. Members of the Comptroller's Bureau of Labor Law also plan to visit associations throughout the City to heighten awareness about prevailing wage laws.

"Most contractors are honest and law abiding," Thompson said. "However, there are dishonest contractors who knowingly fail to pay workers a decent wage, money that they have earned and that they legally deserve."

Attending the meeting at the Comptroller's Office were representatives from: Polish American Congress, New York City Refugee Employment Project, Hermanos Fraternas de Hoiza Alder, Inc., Polish Singers Alliance, Japanese American Social Services, Inc., New York Association for New Americans, Inc. (NYANA), Korean Community Services Education Development Institute, Riverside Language Program, Queensborough Community College / CUNY International Student Affairs and Center for Immigration, Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund / South Asian Workers Project for Human Rights, Legal Aid Society, Caribbean Research Center, Medgar Evers College, South Bronx Action Group, Inc., Catholic Charities' Immigration and Referral Services, New York State Federation of Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, New York Immigration Coalition, Northern Manhattan Coalition for Immigrant Rights, New York City Central Labor Council, HANAC, Inc., the Marymount Manhattan College Institute for Immigrant Concerns, Multicultural American Coalition, Loisaida, Inc., the Multicultural American Coalition, International Rescue Committee, and Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund.

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