WA bill intends to protect immigrants from coercion in the workplace
When an immigrant faces threats or exploitation by their employer, they often have limited recourse. Law students from Seattle University want to change that, pushing for a state bill to strengthen protections for people facing workplace coercion based on their immigration status.
“In the last several years, we have been advocating for legislative changes that would help our clients and this is one of those,” said Elizabeth Ford, a law professor who teaches the workers’ rights clinic at Seattle University.
Sen. Bob Hasegawa, D-Seattle, took up this legislation and introduced Senate Bill 5104, to give workers better tools to avoid workplace threats based on their immigration status and to prevent employers from exploiting the immigration status of employees.
“It’s a shame that we have to try and find every abusive situation and draft a separate bill to deal with it,” Hasegawa said.
https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2025/02/12/wa-bill-intends-to-protect-immigrants-from-coercion-in-the-workplace/