Know Your Rights

Support & Resources

Worker Rights

If you work in New York City, you have rights regardless of immigration status, national origin, or country of origin. Learn more at https://www.nyc.gov/site/dca/workers/workersrights/know-your-worker-rights.page.

To learn about your worker rights throughout New York State, visit https://dol.ny.gov/workforce-protections.

Forced Labor/Human Trafficking

Forced labor, also known as human trafficking, is a crime. If you are:

Told you must work to pay off a debt
Promised a benefit like a green card or money that you don’t receive
Told your employer will keep your passport, ID or employment contract
Threatened that someone will call the police or immigration if you do not work
Threatened that you or your family will suffer physical or other harm
Actually harmed, or a family member is harmed

Call the National Trafficking Hotline 1-888-373-7888 (24 hours/7 days a week) OR the New York Department of Labor Hotline 1-877-466-9757 (9-5, M-F) OR email trafficking@labor.ny.gov.

In an emergency, call 911.

Education
By law, ALL children in New York City, ages 6 to 17 (or turning 6 before July 1), must be enrolled in school until the end of the school year in which they turn 17.
For help enrolling in school and completing required vaccinations,
visit schools.nyc.gov/fwc or call (718) 935-2009 (Monday-Friday, 8am-6pm).

Childcare Services
There are programs that will take care of and look after your children. These programs are available to you regardless of your immigration status. Please visit https://www.schools.nyc.gov/BrightStarts for information about programs for young children.

Youth Programs
For information about youth programs, please visit https://discoverdycd.dycdconnect.nyc/home.

Supports for parents and caregivers
In addition to school and childcare, there are many services available to support parents and caregivers in keeping their family safe and encouraging the wellbeing of your family. For information, email connect@acs.nyc.gov or call 212-676-7667.

Mental Health
Call, text, or chat 988 to access free, confidential crisis counseling and mental health and substance use support, available 24/7 in over 200 languages. Visit nyc988.cityofnewyork.us/en/ to find services.

IDNYC is a card for all New Yorkers, from all backgrounds, and from all five boroughs. Your immigration status does not matter. The free, municipal identification card for New York City residents, ages 10 and up, provides access to a wide variety of services and programs offered by the City. IDNYC cardholders enjoy benefits and discounts offered by businesses and cultural institutions across the five boroughs. Learn more about how to obtain identification from IDNYC.

Legal support
For free immigration legal help, contact the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs Immigration Legal Support Hotline 800-354-0365 (Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.).

For help finding employment
Workforce1 helps New Yorkers who have work authorization prepare for, and connect to, jobs across New York City and in every sector of the economy. Visit www.nyc.gov/site/sbs/careers/virtual-wf1cc.page.

Regulations and Responsibilities

MTA Rules
It is against the MTA Rules of Conduct to engage in unauthorized commercial activity, such as the display or sale of food or goods, in the subway system and can result in fines.

Street Vending
Selling items on public streets and sidewalks also requires permission. For information on Street Vending Enforcement: https://www.nyc.gov/site/dsny/what-we-do/cleaning/street-vending-enforcement.page.

Workplace Protections for Specific Workers

Learn about workplace protections for specific workers: