Immigrant Workers’ Rights: Beyond the Scope of Traditional Labor & Employment Law

Sponsored by the Immigrants’ Rights Coalition Labor & Trafficking Committee
and the Labor & Employment Law Forum as part of Immigrants’ Rights Week

October 25, 2010, 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM

Immigrant workers, often termed “undocumented,” “fringe,” or “guest” workers, include farmworkers, day laborers, domestic workers and at-home care nurses.  These individuals are either minimally protected or are exempt from wage, hour, safety and collective bargaining regulations normally governed by the Fair Labor Standards Act, Occupational Safety and Health Act and the National Labor Relations Act.  Due to the lack of workplace regulations, these individuals are often left vulnerable to rampant workplace abuse and exploitation.

The panel was moderated by Elizabeth Keyes, Practitioner-in-Residence with the WCL Immigrant Justice Clinic, and featured:

• Sebastian Amar, Staff Attorney from CASA de Maryland
• Seok H. “Daniel” Choi, Attorney with the Immigrant Advocacy Program of the Legal Aid Justice Center in VA
• Joseph Geevarghese, Deputy Director of Strategic Organizing for Change to Win