2 Bills Regulating Sweatshops Clear 1st Legislative Hurdle

Despite warnings from conservatives that it could turn garment workers into criminals or starving homeless, two bills aimed at cracking down on the latest proliferation of sweatshops in Orange and Los Angeles counties easily cleared their first legislative hurdle Wednesday.

The Assembly Labor Committee voted 7-2 to approve a measure, sponsored by Assemblyman Tom Hayden (D-Santa Monica), that would hold garment manufacturers jointly liable for any labor law violations found among the hundreds of subcontractors they hire to sew and assemble clothing. The committee also passed a related bill by Assemblyman Richard Floyd (D-Carson) that would provide financial incentives to whistle-blowers who notify the government about the sweatshops.

The bill received only token opposition, and no one from the garment industry spoke against it. But an analysis prepared by the Assembly Conservative Caucus used colorful language to urge a “no” vote on the proposed joint liability idea.

“People do not work in sweatshops to enjoy a break from six-figure incomes and expense-account lunches,” said the analysis, written by Republican consultant Roger Magyar. “They work long hours for low wages in lousy conditions because they have no better alternative. If public policy denies them that alternative, they can increase the supply of workers already competing for low wage jobs and further depress wages, they can turn to crime, or they can try welfare, homelessness and starvation.”