Thanking California’s agricultural workforce and sharing vital worker protections at the annual Farmworkers Appreciation Breakfast
Blog post: December 18, 2025
California Secretary of Labor Stewart Knox and leaders from the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR), Employment Development Department (EDD), and the Agricultural Labor Relations Board (ALRB) gathered in Calexico for the annual Farmworkers Appreciation Breakfast, where they served more than 2,500 farmworkers.
California’s farmworkers feed the nation, as California farms produce half the country’s vegetables and over three-quarters of the country’s fruits and nuts. And yet despite the critical nature of their work, farmworkers – many of whom are immigrants or living in mixed-status households – face fear and uncertainty at home and at work as their communities experience ongoing attacks by federal immigration enforcement.
California is committed to protecting the labor rights of farmworkers and all workers and is a national leader with some of the strongest workplace standards in the country. These standards are guaranteed under the law and ensure dignity, fairness, and safety on the job.
California Labor Secretary Stewart Knox (left) and California Labor Commissioner Lilia García-Brower (right) serving food to farmworkers.
“The breakfast brings California’s vital and hardworking farmworker community together with the working people at the Labor & Workforce Development Agency and our departments who hold the responsibility of protecting these workers and their workplaces,” said Secretary Knox. “Serving the community strengthens our commitment and emphasizes that farmworkers are and will remain a priority for California.”
Through initiatives such as the Reaching Every Californian campaign, the California Workplace Outreach Program, the Statewide Agriculture and Farmworker Education Program, and Labor & Workforce Development Agency’s Rural Strategic Engagement Program, LWDA and its departments are actively working to reach more workers in rural areas where, historically, workers have struggled to access state services. This work has been especially critical as targeted immigration enforcement can further suppress reporting in communities that already underreport labor violations, causing workplace abuses to persist and grow.
How workers can get help
Please note, immigration status does not affect your right to seek assistance or protection under California labor law. Workers who file claims, complaints or exercise other rights under California labor laws do not need to disclose their immigration status.
Labor Commissioner’s Office
The Labor Commissioner’s Office (LCO) enforces California’s wage and hour laws, and protects workers by resolving disputes, investigating employer violations, and ensuring fair labor practices. Contact the LCO for help or questions by calling the toll-free number, 833-526-4636, or online. For international calls, enter the calling code from the country you are calling from plus the U.S. code (1) and the LCO number (833-526-4636). For example, from Mexico, dial 00 + 1 + 833-526-4636. Individuals can still file a claim with the LCO even if you leave California or the United States.
Cal/OSHA
Workers who have questions about workplace safety concerns can call 833-579-0927 to speak with a Cal/OSHA representative between the hours of 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. Complaints about workplace safety and health hazards can be filed confidentially with Cal/OSHA district offices.
Cal/OSHA helps protect workers from health and safety hazards on the job in almost every workplace in California. Employers who have questions or need assistance with workplace health and safety programs can call Cal/OSHA’s Consultation Services Branch at 800-963-9424.
Division of Workers’ Compensation
DWC oversees the workers’ compensation system in California to ensure that employees who are hurt or become ill because of their job receive the medical care and benefits they are entitled to. If you are injured or made sick at work, you can file a workers’ compensation claim and get help navigating the process through DWC’s Information and Assistance Unit. For assistance, call 1-800-736-7401 or visit the DWC website for information in multiple languages.
Employment Development Department
The EDD provides services and assistance in multiple languages and operates the Migrant and Seasonal Farmworker Outreach Program to support ag employers and farmworkers. The program shares employment opportunities, informs workers of their labor rights, and connects them to support services and referrals through local partnerships. EDD also provides services for Unemployment Insurance (UI), Disability Insurance (DI), and Paid Family Leave. You can contact EDD online or by phone to access help and services.
Agricultural Labor Relations Board
ALRB protects the rights of agricultural employees to collectively bargain for better working conditions, with or without union representation. ALRB also investigates and prosecutes unfair labor practice allegations and conducts elections for employees to choose or remove a union as their bargaining representative. Learn more about ALRB resources for farmworkers.
