NEW: Gov. Patrick Signs Bill to Protect Temporary Workers

Monday, August 06, 2012

GoLocalWorcester News Team

Gov. Patrick signed an Act Establishing a Temporary Workers Right to Know, legislation that strengthens the state’s ability to regulate staffing and temporary agencies to protect vulnerable workers and level the playing field for businesses.

“Thousands of Massachusetts workers are sent off to work by staffing agencies without any idea of where they are going, what work they will do, and what they will be paid,” said Governor Patrick. “This bill levels the playing field for all of our businesses while fulfilling our responsibility to make sure all of our workers are being treated fairly.”

Temporary workers employed under such conditions have failed to receive their earned wages or can be injured at hazardous worksites without workers’ compensation coverage in place. This not only hurts workers, but also the law-abiding businesses that must bear the costs on behalf of these staffing agencies.

“The Temporary Workers Right to Know Bill promotes transparency and fairness,” said Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development, Joanne F. Goldstein. “This legislation requires staffing agencies to provide employees with notice about basic information before going to a job, such as the temporary agency’s contact information, workers’ compensation carrier, and the rate of pay.”

The bill also prohibits agencies from charging certain fees, like the cost of registering with the staffing agency or for performing a criminal record check. Staffing agencies are also prohibited from charging any fee that would reduce a worker’s pay below the minimum wage, and are required to reimburse a worker if it sends him/her to a worksite for the purposes of working and no work is available.

Professional, secretarial and administrative positions are excluded from the job order notification requirement, the central provision of the law. The new requirements under this law conform to industry standards practiced by the Commonwealth’s staffing agencies. These provisions reflect the fact that this bill balances both workers’ rights and the business needs of staffing agencies.

The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development’s Department of Labor Standards is currently responsible for registering staffing agencies, and will issue regulations and carry out inspections and investigations under this new law.