California’s Freelance Worker Protection Act Becomes Law
Governor Gavin Newsom has signed SB 988, known as the Freelance Worker Protection Act, into law. The law, introduced by Democratic California senator Scott Wiener, provides labor protections for freelance workers in California, including mandatory contracts, 30-day payment terms, payment agreement protections, and anti-retaliation clauses, among other protections. The bill was sponsored by the California Teamsters Public Affairs Council and the National Writers Union.
“We make up almost 40% of the workforce, contributing $1.35 trillion to the national economy, yet over 70% of freelancers experience late payment or no payment at all,” Larry Goldbetter, president of the National Writers Union, said in a statement. California now joins New York State and Illinois in providing a huge number of independent contractors the protections we deserve, laying the basis for federal legislation and the protections enjoyed by millions of U.S. workers.”
