California’s Hero Labor Law: The Private Attorneys General Act Fights Wage Theft and Recovers Millions from Lawbreaking Corporations

Though California has enacted numerous laws that help workers recover stolen wages, access paid leave from work, and enforce safe and humane working conditions, such legislation fails to deliver economic security to working Californians unless accompanied by strong enforcement mechanisms. In response to the lack of enforcement power, California enacted the Private Attorneys General Act (“PAGA”) in 2003 to reduce noncompliance with the state’s labor laws and prevent unlawful and anti-competitive business practices. This brief explores how PAGA positively impacts California’s workforce through enhancing Labor Code compliance among employers, building enforcement capacity among state agencies, and ensuring that violations of the law have a legitimate remedy.