CAIR-NJ, Coalition Partners Rally in Trenton in Support of Temporary Workers’ Bill of Rights
(SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ, 11/23/2022) – The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ) joined coalition partners, including Make the Road New Jersey, at the Capitol Building in Trenton on Monday, November 21st to call on state legislators to pass the Temporary Workers’ Bill of Rights (A1474/S511).
The Temporary Workers’ Bill of Rights provides certain protections and rights for temporary laborers and could play a crucial role in redressing racial and gender wage and employment discrimination. The bill of rights would also mandate equal pay for equal work and basic disclosures around rate of pay and hours.
SEE: Assembly: Temporary Workers’ Bill of Rights
SEE: Senate: Temporary Workers’ Bill of Rights
Black and Latino workers make up an overwhelming majority of most temporary staffing work, according to the National Employment Law Project. While Black workers represent 12.1 percent of the overall workforce, they make up 25.9 percent of temporary workers. Similarly, while Latino workers make up16.6 percent of all workers, they represent 25.4 percent of temporary workers. Due to a lack of sufficient labor protections, temporary workers are subject to precarious employment status, low pay, lack of benefits, wage theft, and even health and safety risks.
In a statement, CAIR-NJ Government Affairs Manager Madina P. Ouedraogo, MPA-PNP said:
“The Temporary Workers’ Bill of Rights is critical legislation that will help ensure that New Jersey’s thousands of essential workers are guaranteed stronger protections within their workplaces.
“From retail spaces to service industries, essential workers play an integral role in our daily lives. To call them essential without providing them the protections they need and deserve is inconsistent, and we join coalition groups in the exigent call for essential workers’ labor protection.”
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: CAIR-NJ Executive Director Selaedin Maksut, 908-267-3119, smaksur@cair.com
