For decades, temporary workers have come to California full of hope. But according to labor trafficking survivor Avelino Reloj, many instead find themselves trapped in exploitation with no way out. Reloj writes in The Sacramento Bee, that is why he and advocacy organizations support passing California Assembly Bill 1362 (AB 1362). They are calling on the Senate and Gov. Gavin Newsom to recognize the importance of the Bill and pass the legislation into law.
Exploited, silenced and forgotten
When Reloj was let go from his hotel job in the Philippines he was desperate. His family was depending on him to survive. So, when a labor contractor offered him a job as a janitor in the United States, he saw it as a lifeline.
“I believed I was finally getting the chance to change our lives for the better. But the promise I was given quickly turned into a trap. Before I even arrived in the U.S., everything changed.”
They forced him to sign a new contract he didn’t understand. And instead of the janitorial job, he found himself in a different state working a hotel job. But unlike his original contract, which promised free housing, food and transportation, he now had to pay for everything himself. Even worse, in a classic labor exploitation red flag, his employer took away his passport. They also told all the new recruits that if they didn’t accept the new terms of their contract they’d be deported. Sadly, Reloj’s story isn’t an exception. Since then, he has learned his story is like so many other temporary workers in California.
“Without enforceable protections, too many workers like me are funneled into dangerous and deceptive recruitment schemes with no way to speak out or seek help. That doesn’t just hurt workers — it also undermines honest businesses that play by the rules.”
Working for a pittance in California, Reloj fell deeper into debt. Afraid and stuck, he didn’t know how to get help. His fear of deportation kept him silent. And he kept working because he thought he had no other choice.
A gap in oversight that’s impossible to ignore
California is poised to open the doors to more temporary immigrant workers through its growing visa programs. But Reloj says stories of exploitation like his often remain in the shadows. Accordingly, that’s why passing AB 1362 is so important to him and labor advocacy groups. The legislation helps ensure temporary workers are informed about the terms of their employment and visa. The bill would also demand transparency from recruiters and employers. Perhaps most important, it would close the loopholes that currently allow labor trafficking to flourish.
“I often wished someone had warned me. I wished someone had told me I had rights. But more than anything, I wished labor protections in this country meant something — not just in writing, but in practice.”
In early June AB 1362 passed the California Assembly with strong bipartisan support. Poignantly this was just days before raids and labor enforcement actions underlined just how vulnerable immigrant workers still are, even if they follow all the rules.
Passing AB 1362 would represent a legislative landmark in the US. Reljo points out it would also set California up as a national leader in protecting both human dignity and fair competition in the labor market.
Freedom United is once again calling on California lawmakers to prioritize protections for temporary migrant workers. Join us in demanding stronger safeguards—because no worker should have to choose between exploitation and survival.
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