A free legal clinic in Philadelphia is working to recover wages stolen from Asian American immigrant workers.
Newsworks reports Community Legal Services is offering free legal clinics to workers who may not even be aware they are being victimized.
“The challenge is getting the client to feel comfortable enough to come to us,” said Chi- Ser Tran who holds clinics in South Philly and Chinatown. “And part of that is education and letting them know that they have the right to be paid at least minimum wage and they shouldn’t be afraid to stand up for their rights. Even if they’re undocumented they have the right to be paid for their work.”
At least 90,000 people in Philadelphia are victims of wage thefts, according to the Philadelphia City Council. The council which has created an office to handle worker complaints says this theft is costing workers on average 15 percent of their paycheck.
An estimated 25 percent of Asian Americans live in poverty in the city. Many work in industries suspected of stealing wages.
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