El Centro Humanitario

El Centro Humanitario advocates for the rights of low wage workers, non-standards workers, casual workers, and day laborers through policy change and public advocacy. For the past six years, El Centro actively participated in coaltion work to change laws in Colorado.

1. End Wage Theft Campaign: The End Wage Theft Campaign is a collective effort of the community to reduce wage exploitation of low wage, temporary and casual workers in Colorado through policy change and direct organizing. Speaheaded by El Centro and its coalition groups, the campaign secured the passage of a new Denver ordinance in 2005 that defines predatory employers as thieves and that gives Denver police officers the authority to arrest predatory employers and pursue civil and criminal pernalties.

2. Increased penalty of wage theft: In June, 2007, El Centro and its coalition groups helped pass a statewide legislation that increases the penalty by 175 percent for employers who do not pay wages up to $7,500. By impositng the increased penalty for not paying wages, employers now face a more serious consequence for wage abuse of workers, if the intention of the employer is willful. This legislation also includes a section that workers would not have to pay an attorney's fee when they lose the case at a court. This legislation has been useful for our wage claim program to warn employers of the potential consequence when not responding to our demand letter regarding lost wages.

3. Research on the abuse of domestic workers in Colorado and research on redefining the definition of an independent contractor has been done in connection with the University of Denver, College of Law and coalition groups.

El Centro Humanitario
2260 California Street
Denver, CO 80205
Telephone: 303.292.4115
Fax: 303.292.2109