The State of Workers' Rights

DCWP is NYC’s central resource for workers.

2022 Report: The State of Workers' Rights in New York City

The report outlines DCWP’s work during 2021 to protect New Yorkers who performed essential services throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, raise labor standards through new policies, enforce worker protection laws, and educate businesses and workers alike.

2021 Report: The State of Workers' Rights in New York City

DCWP released its fourth annual report on the State of Workers’ Rights in New York City, which highlights our efforts to protect workers and expand City workplace laws during the COVID-19 pandemic.

2020 Report: The State of Workers' Rights in New York City

In his 2019 State of the City address, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) would be renamed the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP), marking an important milestone in the growth of the Agency. The Agency’s new name better reflects its expanded role and mandate. This report follows two previous publications about The State of Workers’ Rights. It is organized according to DCWP’s four main worker protection functions: Enforcing NYC’s Worker Protection Laws; Educating New Yorkers about Workers’ Rights; Developing New Policies to Raise Labor Standards; and Analyzing NYC’s Labor Markets. Download Third Annual Report on the State of Workers’ Rights in NYC

2019 Report: Advances and Setbacks in Turbulent Times

On January 31, 2019, DCA released “Advances and Setbacks in Turbulent Times: Second Annual Report on the State of Workers’ Rights in NYC” from its Office of Labor Policy & Standards (OLPS). The release follows Mayor de Blasio’s State of the City announcement that DCA will be renamed as the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection to reflect the Agency’s expanded mandate, and as OLPS completes its second full year of work implementing vital new protections for workers in New York City and taking on the critical challenges that workers face. DCA released the report in conjunction with a day of outreach to day laborers in the South Bronx as part of City Hall in Your Borough: Bronx.

2018 Public Hearing: The State of Workers' Rights in NYC

On July 17, 2018, the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) Office of Labor Policy & Standards, in partnership with the City Commission on Human Rights and the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, held a public hearing about the state of workers’ rights in NYC. Workers shared testimonials on how they are defending and advancing their workplace rights. The hearing included panels of workers who testified about issues they faced at work as well as open testimony from low-wage and immigrant workers, worker advocate groups, labor unions, nonprofits, and community-based organizations. Topics included gaps in existing protections for workers; freelancer payment issues; issues related to worksite immigration enforcement; workers' right to organize; wage theft; discrimination; scheduling problems; health and saftey issues; and access to paid safe and sick leave.

Download testimony
Download hearing transcript
Watch the below videos in English and Spanish on how workers are defending and advancing their workplace rights.

2017 Report and Roundtable Discussion

On September 20, 2017, the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs’ (DCA) Office of Labor Policy & Standards (OLPS) released the “State of Workers’ Rights” report at City Hall. DCA, the New York City Commission on Human Rights (CCHR), and the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) participated in a roundtable discussion with advocacy groups, worker organizations, and labor unions about the report’s findings and the issues affecting workers in New York City. OLPS also released the 2017 Empire State Poll results, in which OLPS partnered with the Worker Institute at Cornell University to survey New Yorkers on a range of issues related to inequality, working conditions, and the role of city and local government in protecting immigrants and defending worker rights.

2017 Public Hearing: The State of Workers' Rights in NYC

On April 25, 2017, the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) Office of Labor Policy & Standards (OLPS), in collaboration with the New York City Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) and the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA), convened a public hearing on the state of workers’ rights in New York City at LaGuardia Community College in Queens. Testimony provided by workers and organizations help to inform OLPS’ future efforts to protect workers, and offer insight on the emerging gap in labor protections, particularly for low-wage and vulnerable workers.