This section of PALawHelp.org has information and resources about Employment Issues for Migrants in Pennsylvania.
Click on a resource category listed below to see information related to that category.
Justice at Work
Justice at Work provides free legal assistance for low-wage and immigrant workers in Pennsylvania.
Know Your Rights at Work
This booklet from the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General outlines the rights a worker has in the workplace and how to get help if you are experiencing an unlawful work-related issue.
Federal Court Finder
Find a federal court location by location or court name, including appellate, district, bankruptcy, probation and pretrial office, or federal defender organization. Each District Court has its own local forms which are generally available on the Court website.
Filing an Employment Discrimination Charge - A Do-It-Yourself Packet for Immigrant Workers
A Do-It-Yourself Packet for Immigrant Workers. This Packet Contains a Basic Information Brief: Employer Sanctions and Discrimination; Sample I-9 Form; Practical Tips on Dealing with a Discriminatory Employer; How to File a Discrimination Charge; Instructions on Filling out the Charge Form; and Sample Charge and Complaint Forms.
Filing an Employment Discrimination Charge - A Do-It-Yourself Packet for Immigrant Workers
A Do-It-Yourself Packet for Immigrant Workers. This Packet Contains a Basic Information Brief: Employer Sanctions and Discrimination; Sample I-9 Form; Practical Tips on Dealing with a Discriminatory Employer; How to File a Discrimination Charge; Instructions on Filling out the Charge Form; and Sample Charge and Complaint Forms.
Immigrant Workers’ Rights and COVID-19 - Frequently Asked Questions
The COVID-19 public health crisis is creating many challenges for immigrant workers and their families. An estimated six million immigrants are in essential jobs at the front lines of the response to this pandemic. This provides answers to frequently asked questions from immigrant workers and their advocates about COVID-19-related topics.
Sexual Violence Against Farmworkers: A Guidebook for Legal Providers
The goal of this guidebook from the Southern Poverty Law Center is to increase the knowledge and skills of legal professionals so that you can better serve farmworkers who have experienced sexual violence. It provides helpful explanations about the life and work of farmworkers as well as unique issues that may impact the services you provide. (April 2010)
Do You Need a Court Interpreter? (Video)
This video from the PA Courts explains how to request a court interpreter; what to expect; how to communicate with court staff outside the courtroom; and who is qualified to be a court interpreter.
Blue Campaign
Information on Blue Campaign, a national public awareness campaign, designed to educate the public, law enforcement and other industry partners to recognize the indicators of human trafficking, and how to appropriately respond to possible cases.
Fact Sheet #35: Joint Employment Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act (MSPA)
This Fact Sheet from the United States Department of Labor provides general information concerning the meaning and applicability of joint employment under the Fair Labor Standards Act and under the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act. (January 2020)
Fact Sheet #49: The Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act
This fact sheet from the United States Department of Labor outlines the rights protected by the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act. (July 2008)
Fair Labor Standards Act Advisor
The Fair Labor Standards Act Advisor, from the United States Department of Labor, provides employers and employees with the information they need to understand Federal minimum wage, overtime, child labor and recordkeeping requirements. The child labor section answers questions from youth, parents, teachers and employers about Federal child labor rules. This Advisor was developed by the Wage and Hour Division.
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) Minimum Wage Poster
Poster from the United States Department of Labor outlining current minimum wage requirements.
Foreign Workers and Social Security Numbers
Information from the Social Security Administration for foreign workers about why you need a Social Security number and how to get one. [PDF] (July 2017)
If You Are A Farm Worker
Booklet from Social Security which provides farm workers with information about how Social Security can help you and your family, the importance of your Social Security number, how your boss reports your earnings, and how to make sure your earnings are reported correctly. (June 2021)
Know Your Rights at Work
This booklet from the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General outlines the rights a worker has in the workplace and how to get help if you are experiencing an unlawful work-related issue.
National Farmworker Jobs Program
The National Farmworker Jobs Program (NFJP) is a nationally-directed, locally-administered program of services for migrant and seasonal farmworkers. NFJP, with support from the United States Department of Labor, assists migrant and other seasonally-employed farmworkers and their families achieve economic self-sufficiency through job training and other services that address their employment related needs.
PA Courts Public Access Policy - Filing Requirements in the Courts (Video)
Effective on January 6, 2018, a new Public Access Policy is in effect in Pennsylvania Courts. This policy imposes requirements on anyone filing court documents in the trial and appellate courts to safeguard information in the documents they file. The Pennsylvania Courts have released this series of videos that explain the judiciary’s new policy for protecting confidential information and the required steps you must take to protect that information when filing documents in the courts.
Social Security & Entering the United States of America
Section of the Social Security Administration website providing information about Social Security for recent immigrants and other non-citizens entering the United States.
Tools That Teach: What is Human Trafficking? (Video)
This video from the Department of Homeland Security's Blue Campaign helps answer the question "What is Human Trafficking? "
Wage and Hour Division, U.S. Department of Labor
Website of the Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor.
What Is Human Trafficking?
Human trafficking involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act. This provides additional information about human trafficking, how to deal with it, and how to report if you are a victim of trafficking.
About DACA and Employment
Information and Frequently Asked Questions about workers rights under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. (September 2017)
Citizenship Discrimination
Information on citizenship status discrimination, where an employer treats you differently from other workers because of your citizenship or immigration status.
Document Abuse
By law, employers must make sure that the workers they hire have permission to work in the U.S. But the same law also says that employers may not discriminate against workers with authorization to work. This provides information on the most common legal work authorization documents that you are allowed to show your employer to prove your identity and eligibility to work in the U.S.
Filing an Employment Discrimination Charge - A Do-It-Yourself Packet for Immigrant Workers
A Do-It-Yourself Packet for Immigrant Workers. This Packet Contains a Basic Information Brief: Employer Sanctions and Discrimination; Sample I-9 Form; Practical Tips on Dealing with a Discriminatory Employer; How to File a Discrimination Charge; Instructions on Filling out the Charge Form; and Sample Charge and Complaint Forms.
I-9 Antidiscrimination Protections
In 1986, Congress enacted the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) that made it unlawful for an employer in the United States to knowingly hire a worker who is not authorized to work in the U.S. The 1986 law established a procedure that employers must follow to verify that employees are authorized to work in the U.S. The federal government created Form I-9, the employment eligibility verification form, which employers must complete for all new employees.
Proving Work Authorization and Reverification
Questions and answers on work authorization and reverification. (April 2009)