California Democrats on Wednesday ordered the state's Office of Workplace Safety after hearing testimony from farmworkers who say they are exposed to extreme heat and pesticides and face wage theft and other labor law violations on the job. vehemently criticized.

At a hearing before the Assembly Labor and Employment Committee, farm workers and their advocates testified that the state has repeatedly failed to enforce workplace protection laws.

The allegations come as the California Occupational Safety and Health Administration, known as Cal/OSHA, is in a dispute with 38% of its employees. vacancy rate. Labor shortages are further worsening workplace safety compliance in high-risk industries. The industry already prevents low-wage workers from reporting workplace violations due to fear of retaliation or deportation, speakers said Wednesday.

“We have heard over and over again that the laws on the ground are not the laws we are passing at the statewide level,” Rep. Joaquin Arambula (D-Fresno) said Wednesday. “We know the implementation is not working well for the community.”

Cal/OSHA representatives told lawmakers Wednesday that the creation of a new “Agricultural Enforcement Unit” is underway and will prioritize hiring employees focused on agricultural operations.

Committee chair Rep. Liz Ortega (D-San Leandro) said after the hearing that she is not satisfied with the state agency's response and is calling for a Cal/OSHA audit.

Ortega called what's happening on some farms in the state “dangerous and illegal” and on Wednesday refused to accept funding concerns as a reason for substandard workplace safety compliance. He noted that California currently faces a multibillion-dollar deficit, but had a budget surplus in 2019. A time when many farm worker complaints surfaced.

“To say I'm furious is an understatement,” Ortega said Wednesday. “I don't want to hear any more excuses. Excuse after excuse, year after year.”

A potential audit could be facilitated through legislation or through a joint committee of Congress voting on issues deemed worthy of investigation. Other members include Mr. Arambula and Senator Dave. Rep. Cortese (D-San Jose) said he supports such an audit.

Cal/OSHA Secretary Debra Lee called Wednesday's testimony “very concerning.” Under the agency's new agricultural enforcement division, an anonymous complaint hotline for farm workers will be established and offices will be expanded to agriculturally rich places like the San Joaquin Valley, she said. Stated.

“Our mission is the safety and health of our workers,” Lee said during Wednesday's hearing. “Workers’ lives and livelihoods depend on our collective ability to prevent injury and illness.”

Agricultural work is considered in it most dangerous In the United States, the effects of climate change are exposing outdoor workers to more life-threatening heat than ever before.

California has a law that pays farmworkers overtime and protects undocumented workers from penalties by employers if they file wage complaints. Last year, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation to make it easier for farm workers to unionize and created a program to provide free legal assistance to immigrant farm workers involved in state labor investigations.

Still, enforcement of these laws is not always on the ground, workers, advocates and union representatives told lawmakers Wednesday. The workers said they do not trust state agencies due to concerns about deportation and have faced barriers when trying to contact Cal/OSHA in the past.

Cristina Gonzalez, a farm worker who picks tomatoes, blueberries and figs in Madera, tried to help her co-workers file complaints with the state, but the California/OSHA office said they speak Mixteco and other indigenous languages. He said he was unable to contact the person.

“This makes us lose our faith,” Gonzalez told lawmakers.

Rep. Esmeralda Soria (D-Merced) said she was appalled by reports that Cal/OSHA officials were “condescending” to farm workers who asked for help or ignored it altogether. Ta.

“It's really upsetting to hear these vulnerable workers, workers who in most cases don't want to make phone calls, saying this.” [Cal/OSHA] Because they are treated like garbage and when they call the state institutions, their needs are not addressed,” Soria said.

Cal/OSHA's Lee also responded Wednesday to multiple allegations by farm workers that state officials had tipped off farmers in the state about the inspections in advance, which could lead to jail time. This is a labor law violation that could lead to.

“If something like this is happening, this is something we want and need to know and we're going to take action,” she said.