Purpose

Oct. 31, 2016 11:04 am

Asian immigrants are suffering from wage theft

Here's how Community Legal Services is stepping up to help.

Philadelphia's Chinatown.

(Photo by Flickr user Alexis Lewis, used under a Creative Commons license)

Editor's note: The immigrant makeup of Chinatown has been clarified from an earlier version of this story. Edit 10/31 @ 3:50 p.m.
Community Legal Services (CLS) is a 20-minute walk from Chinatown, where the majority of Asian immigrants are Chinese, and a short subway ride from South Philly, where a significant proportion of immigrants are Vietnamese.

These groups also have the highest rates of poverty and limited English proficiency. Yet, very few of them are walking through the organization’s doors. Chi-Ser Tran, a new fellow with CLS, is aiming to change that.

“There has been very little attention paid to this group. Not many legal services organizations have had the resources to expand services [to them],” Tran said.

Tran said CLS has noticed a trend in Asian immigrants being underpaid. Employers are either not paying overtime or not paying the minimum wage.

Their immigrant status, said Tran, makes them hesitant to seek help.

“If someone is undocumented, they might feel very reluctant to come forth because their status makes them very vulnerable,” she said.

Tran is hosting free legal clinics for Chinese and Vietnamese immigrants in Philadelphia. Right now, they’ve been happening irregularly, but she’s hoping to make them a consistent form of outreach for an often overlooked community.

The next clinic is Tuesday, Nov. 1, at Chinese Christian Church, 225 N. 10th St. Anyone interested in knowing about future clinics can email Tran at ctran@clsphila.org or call the Philadelphia Asian American Workers Rights Project hotline at 215-981-3732.

-30-

From our Partners

Unlocking Greater Philadelphia’s Workforce Potential: Challenges and Opportunities Ahead

Public Safety by the Numbers: Education

Public Safety by the Numbers

SPONSORED

Philly

Meet Kim Andrews, new executive director for The Fund for Women and Girls

Philadelphia

North10 Philadelphia

Chief of Staff

Apply Now
hybrid / Philadelphia

Generocity

Community Narrative Journalist and Engagement Specialist

Apply Now
2771 Ruth Street, Suite 1 Philadelphia, PA 19134

New Kensington Community Development Corporation (NKCDC)

Housing Advisor

Apply Now

Can The Promise lift 100,000 Philadelphians out of poverty by 2025?

Meet the leaders advancing The Promise’s mission to lift Philadelphians out of poverty

On the market: 50 social impact jobs to get you going

SPONSORED

Philly

Be the leader to bring a 26-year mission into the future in Chester County

2771 Ruth Street, Suite 1 Philadelphia, PA 19134

New Kensington Community Development Corporation (NKCDC)

Director of Housing Services

Apply Now
Hamilton, NJ

Grounds For Sculpture

Graphic Designer

Apply Now
Philadelphia,PA

Pennsylvania Horticultural Society

Director, LandCare

Apply Now
   
       
       

Subscribe to Generocity

       
* indicates required