The Day Labor Resource Centers Program in the City of Los Angeles is a public safety program that allows persons seeking casual labor work to safely congregate and be matched with employers seeking temporary workers. All services are free of charge.
The Day Labor Resource Center program provides fixed hiring centers in selected areas of the City where persons participating in the casual labor force can safely congregate to solicit employment from residents and businesses seeking day labor. As such, these centers provide valuable community services to residents, merchants, and others, helping them feel comfortable and safe while seeking work in public.
A Day Labor Resource Center provides a safe space away from traffic and busy streets, decreasing the potential for an accident and providing basic amenities to day laborers such as water, coffee, bread, lavatories, waste disposal, benches, and shade. The resource system provides core services that include, but are not limited to:
- Outreach and Job Placement
- Immigrant Integration and Paths to Citizenship
- Multi-Benefit Screening (such as tax credits, CalFresh, insurance options, and utilities discount programs)
- Employment Support and Soft-Skills Training
- Education Assistance
- Legal Services
All resources and services are FREE to employers and day laborers at all sites.
Program Administration
The program is administered by the Economic & Workforce Development Department (EWDD). Two LA City contractors currently operate the sites:
Contractor staff members supervise the workers on site and are responsible for ensuring the site is safe, clean, drug- and alcohol-free, and free of violence. Each site has a system to dispatch jobs fairly.
The staff also provides community outreach services. The outreach services are designed to bring the day laborers and employers to the site, coordinate with the businesses that attract the day laborers, and work with community members and organizations to address local issues and concerns related to the presence of day laborers. Basic amenities like water, coffee, bread, sanitary facilities, and shelter are provided on-site. Site staff coordinates various on-site activities. On-site activities and services are also provided through volunteers and religious and community organizations.
The in-kind activities and services provided vary based on availability and can include English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, legal counseling regarding immigration and employment issues, financial literacy and money management, computer literacy with access to phones and the internet, clothing, and food. The day laborers are encouraged to volunteer and participate in various community activities, including community cleanup programs and civic involvement.