California Invests $25 Million in Worker Safety, Supporting LA Fire Recovery Efforts
California's Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) is investing in the California Workplace Outreach Project (CWOP) to strengthen worker safety and education.
- By Stasia DeMarco
- Mar 19, 2025
The California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) has announced a $25 million investment in the California Workplace Outreach Project (CWOP) to enhance worker safety and education across the state. This funding will support 89 community-based organizations (CBOs) that provide critical outreach and resources to workers in high-risk industries.
In the Los Angeles region, 21 community groups will receive nearly $6 million to assist workers involved in fire cleanup and rebuilding efforts. These funds will help educate workers on health and safety, hazard prevention, wage theft protections, and immigrant worker rights, ensuring they are equipped with essential knowledge to navigate workplace risks effectively.
California Labor Secretary Stewart Knox emphasized the state’s commitment to reaching workers directly through trusted organizations. “California is implementing a unique model that leverages trusted local messengers to communicate directly with workers. This approach enables targeted outreach to critical areas of the state’s workforce, ensuring they are informed about essential protections.”
DIR Director Katie Hagen highlighted the importance of awareness and accessibility in utilizing worker protections. “California offers a range of services to protect workers, but these resources can go underutilized without proper awareness. CWOP bridges this gap by connecting workers to labor protections through trusted community groups.”
CWOP plays a vital role in protecting workers in high-risk industries, particularly those engaged in fire debris removal and construction. By providing targeted education and resources, the initiative aims to promote safer working conditions, ensure labor law compliance, and safeguard worker well-being.
A press conference announcing the funding included key state and community leaders, including DIR Director Katie Hagen, Cal/OSHA Chief Debra Lee, Labor Commissioner Lilia García-Brower, IDEPSCA’s Nancy Zuniga, Eddie Sanchez of SoCal COSH, Aurea Recinto of Pilipino Workers Center (PWC), and Sebastian Sanchez of the Labor and Workforce Development Agency.
IDEPSCA Executive Director Maegan Ortiz underscored the importance of community outreach in worker protection efforts. “Our organization is on the ground, meeting workers where they are and ensuring they receive the critical information needed to protect their rights and safety. These groups form the backbone of our city's workforce, and many are doing the hard work of rebuilding our community. We must stand with them.”
Research from the Latino Policy and Politics Institute at UCLA found that 36% of Los Angeles workers affected by recent fires are Latino, with Latinos comprising up to 84% of construction workers in the rebuilding efforts. These findings highlight the urgent need for outreach efforts like CWOP to engage these workers through culturally relevant and accessible programs, including multilingual services.
About the California Workplace Outreach Project
CWOP is a DIR initiative dedicated to educating and supporting California’s most vulnerable workers. In collaboration with CBO partners, the program delivers crucial information on workplace protections, labor rights, and health and safety measures to workers in high-risk industries.
A UC Berkeley Possibility Lab report highlighted the effectiveness of the trusted-messenger model in improving worker safety and rights. The study found that using local, trusted messengers significantly enhances outreach success, ensuring that critical workplace safety information reaches workers in culturally relevant and accessible ways.
This $25 million announcement marks the first phase of a two-year funding cycle, with a total $49 million allocated for worker safety initiatives.
About the Author
Stasia DeMarco is the Content Editor for OH&S.