Audit Shows Agencies Not Complying with California Labor Law

Sacramento, CAA recent audit indicates that local government agencies are violating California labor law by failing to translate documents for non-English speakers, the Associated Press reports.

In the report, the California state auditor says that some of the local agencies surveyed in 25 cities and counties may not be doing everything they can to reach out to those whose native language is not English.

Additionally, the audit says that certain state agencies are not following a 1973 California law requiring them to translate documents and employ staff members who are bilingual to allow non-English speakers to access public services, according to the news provider.

"I'm disappointed but not surprised by the findings of the report," said Assembly member Warren T. Furutani, a Democrat who requested the audit. "The audit shows that while the policy is in statute, the practice is not, and we must hold administrators accountable to implement the law."

The audit was initially requested by a group of 13 lawmakers in California.

According to statistics from the American Community Survey, approximately one in five California residents does not speak English as their native language.