# California labor wage and protection efforts

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/california-labor-wage-and-protection-efforts
> Updated: 2026-09-16T05:00:36.000Z. Sources: 4. Developments: 2.

In California, legislative and enforcement efforts are targeting wage protections for agricultural and hospitality workers. 

Legislation passed by the state Legislature seeks to raise the mandatory minimum wage for many farmworkers to $19.75 per hour. This bill, authored by Assemblywoman Maggy Krell, aims to counteract a federal Department of Labor decision that reduced pay for H-2A visa workers, lowering average hourly wages from approximately $19.97 to $16.90.

Concurrently, the California Labor Commissioner’s Office has secured settlements through state labor protections. This includes a $2.75 million settlement with the Anaheim Marriott Hotel for violating the ‘Right to Recall’ law, and the recovery of unpaid wages for farmworkers at Valdovinos Farms, LLC, using an expanded crop lien law.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-16: California labor enforcement secures millions for hospitality and farmworkers

California labor officials secured $2.75 million for hospitality workers via recall law enforcement and recovered nearly $10,000 for farmworkers using expanded crop lien protections.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/california-labor-enforcement-secures-millions-for-hospitality-and-farmworkers

### 2026-09-14: California legislation seeks to raise farmworker minimum wage to $19.75

California Governor Gavin Newsom is considering legislation to raise the minimum wage for many farmworkers to $19.75 per hour to offset federal policy changes that reduced pay for H-2A visa holders.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/california-legislation-seeks-to-raise-farmworker-minimum-wage-to-1975

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Cite as: California labor wage and protection efforts. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/california-labor-wage-and-protection-efforts