by Peter Katz
July 29, 2019 1:07 a.m.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo over the weekend signed into law a bill that makes it illegal for an employer in New York state to retaliate against a worker by contacting federal immigration authorities or threatening to do so. The measure also extends the protection to threats or actions against an employee’s family or household members. The provision takes effect 19 days from the bill’s signing.
The idea for specifying that protections also cover threats regarding immigration status was proposed by the office of New York State Attorney General Letitia James and the legislation was sponsored by state Sen. Jessica Ramos of Queens and Assemblyman Marcos Crespo of the Bronx.
The new law adds language to existing labor law in order to specify that when the existing law says it’s illegal to “threaten, penalize, or in any other manner discriminate or retaliate against any employee” that includes contacting or threatening to contact a federal, state or local agency about an employee’s immigration or citizenship status or the status of a family or household member.
“There is no place for any form of harassment, intimidation, and abuse in the workplace,” James said. “It is incumbent on us to help vulnerable workers be able to stand up for their rights without fear of punishment.”
James’ office said it has received numerous credible reports of employers threatening immigrant workers with potential deportation for standing up for themselves. It also said immigrants are more likely to be victims of wage theft, sexual harassment and misclassification as independent contractors rather than employees entitled to benefits than are employees who are U.S. citizens.