The Florida Senate

448.24  Duties and rights.--

(1)  No labor pool shall charge a day laborer:

(a)  For safety equipment, clothing, accessories, or any other items required by the nature of the work either by law, custom, or as a requirement of the third-party user:

1.  This subsection shall not preclude the labor pool from charging the day laborer the market value of items temporarily provided to the worker by the labor pool, in the event that the worker willfully fails to return such items to the labor pool;

2.  For items other than those referenced in this paragraph, which the labor pool makes available for purchase, the day laborer shall be charged no more than the actual cost of the item to the labor pool, or market value, whichever is less;

(b)  More than a reasonable amount to transport a worker to or from the designated worksite, but in no event shall the amount exceed the prevailing rate for public transportation in the geographic area; or

(c)  For directly or indirectly cashing a worker's check.

(2)  A labor pool shall:

(a)  Compensate day laborers for work performed in the form of cash, or commonly accepted negotiable instruments that are payable in cash, on demand at a financial institution, and without discount.

(b)  Compensate day laborers at or above the minimum wage, in conformance with the provision of s. 448.01 In no event shall any deductions, other than those permitted by federal or state law, bring the worker's pay below minimum wage for the hours worked.

(c)  Comply with all requirements of chapter 440.

(d)  Insure any motor vehicle owned or operated by the labor hall and used for the transportation of workers pursuant to Florida Statutes.

(e)  At the time of each payment of wages, furnish each worker a written itemized statement showing in detail each deduction made from such wages.

(f)  Provide each worker with an annual earnings summary within a reasonable period of time after the end of the preceding calendar year, but no later than February 1.

(3)  No labor pool shall request or require that any day laborer sign any document waiving the protections of this part.

(4)  No labor pool shall charge more than the actual cost of providing lunch, if lunch is provided at the worksite by the labor pool. In no case shall the purchase of lunch be a condition of employment.

(5)  A labor pool that operates a labor hall must provide facilities for a worker waiting at the labor hall for a job assignment that include:

(a)  Restroom facilities.

(b)  Drinking water.

(c)  Sufficient seating.

(6)  No labor pool shall restrict the right of a day laborer to accept a permanent position with a third-party user to whom the laborer is referred for temporary work, or to restrict the right of such a third-party user to offer such employment to an employee of the labor pool. However, nothing shall restrict the labor pool from receiving a reasonable placement fee from the third-party user.

History.--s. 1, ch. 95-332; s. 10, ch. 2001-65.