Policy

In 2001, WISH started a process of developing policy recommendations to reduce work-related injuries and illnesses among California’s immigrant workforce. Over a nine-month period, three meetings were held in Northern California and one in Southern California, with the purpose of identifying strategies and recommendations that WISH would want to promote. WISH formed a Policy Committee that was involved in reviewing the input received at the four meetings and drafting the recommendations, which are presented in WISH’s report, “Improving Health and Safety Conditions for California’s Immigrant Workers” (November 2002).

In October 2002, WISH sponsored a statewide conference in order to share the information the coalition had gathered and get input on the recommendations. The conference was attended by almost 100 people who included WISH members and a broader audience representing community organizations, immigrant advocates, unions, resource organizations, researchers and local and state agencies. The final report included modifications based on the input received at the conference.

The policy recommendations are organized into the following recommendations for action:

• Strengthen state programs
• Support workplace efforts
• Promote local community action
• Involve immigrant workers
• Improve data collection
• Take legislative action
• Coordinate efforts

In the past year, the Coalition has focused on two areas:

• workers’ compensation
• language access barriers