Food Permit Enforcement Program

Introduction

The Food Permit Enforcement Program (Program) launched in September 2019 to combat wage theft and help workers in the retail food industry collect outstanding unpaid wage judgments issued by the CA Labor Commissioner’s Office.

The Program addresses a pervasive wage theft problem that disproportionately affects vulnerable employees, many of them immigrants, women and low-wage workers. The Program aims to:

Foster a healthy economic environment for the County’s businesses and workers
Achieve industry-wide compliance with Federal and State labor laws
Realize satisfaction of existing judgments so workers are paid in full for hours worked.

How it works

The Office of Labor Standards Enforcement (OLSE) in partnership with the Santa Clara County Department of Environmental Health (DEH) – Public Health Department will engage retail food vendors with current existing judgments for labor violations such as unpaid wages to encourage payment of such judgments.

If a retail food vendor is determined to be in violation of their judgment for non-payment, the County of Santa Clara may elect to temporarily suspend or revoke the vendor's food health permit.

For more information about the program please contact the Office of Labor Standards Enforcement or call the OLSE Advice Line for assistance with compliance. Callers may remain anonymous.

To download a copy of the brochure in different languages click below:

Introduction

How it works

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