TRENTON, NJ—The Senate Labor Committee has recommended the approval of Senate Bill No. 2869, which seeks to impose civil penalties on employers who coerce or attempt to coerce employees based on their immigration status.
The bill, dated May 6, outlines escalating fines for violations, starting with a maximum of $1,000 for the first offense, escalating to $5,000 for the second, and reaching up to $10,000 for subsequent offenses.
New Jersey’s employment laws offer comprehensive protections to all employees, including immigrants.
The bill is designed to address the hesitance of immigrant employees to report violations due to fear of retaliation based on their immigration status. By imposing additional penalties, the bill aims to deter employers from exploiting these vulnerabilities.
For instance, under the proposed legislation, an employer already facing penalties for failing to pay legal wages under the “New Jersey State Wage and Hour Law” would incur additional fines if they also threatened an employee over their immigration status to prevent reporting of the initial wage violation.
This measure reinforces the state’s commitment to upholding the rights of all workers, regardless of their origin.
