A new set of worker protections take effect Oct. 1, and state justice officials and business groups are advising business owners to learn what their new obligations are under the law. 

The state’s Immigrant Worker Protection Act requires all employers to notify employees within five business days of a receiving a Notice of Inspection of Forms I-9 from a federal agency. The notification process must include posting the notice in a conspicuous place where it can be seen by all workers as well as providing it directly to all workers. 

The notice must be in English as well as Spanish, Russian, Vietnamese, Ukrainian and Chinese. It must include the name of the agency that filed the Notice of Inspection, when it was filed, what records the agency is seeking, a copy of the federal agency request 

Additionally, once the inspection is complete, employers must provide notice within five business days of the results to affected workers and their representatives. 

“This law establishes basic requirements to ensure immigrant workers in Washington are treated with respect and receive the same information as their employers about these inspections,” Attorney General Nick Brown said in a statement. “Our office will help businesses understand their responsibilities under this new law, as well as the rights of employers and workers when it comes to federal immigration enforcement.” 

The Washington Retail Association said it’s crucial that business owners be fully versed in the new requirements. 

“If any one of these steps are missed – even if there is not material damage and there were no issues with the audit/inspection – you may be subject to the Washington Attorney General enforcement of $500 for each instance where the employer failed to provide notice to a worker, courts can double the statutory damages if the violation is willful,” the association said in a release. 

Retail association officials added: “A private right of action also exists for violations with required damages of up to and including an amount equal to the actual damages or statutory damages equivalent to 40 times the hourly state minimum wage per plaintiff per violation, whichever is greater.” 

To learn more, go to: https://www.atg.wa.gov/IWPA.