1. Labor Commissioner's Office

Workers' Rights Enforcement Grant

The Labor Commissioner's Office is excited to announce it is now accepting Workers' Rights Enforcement Grant applications for Year 3 (July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027).

The state has allocated $9 million to the Department of Industrial Relations, to administer this grant application. There will be an annual grant award cycle totaling $9,000,000 (minus DIR administrative charges) each year to eligible public prosecutors. A “public prosecutor” is a district attorney, city attorney, county council or any other city or county prosecutor who has established a workers’ rights enforcement program. A maximum of $1,000,000 per applicant per year may be awarded, on a competitive basis. All applications will be considered public documents and subject to a Public Records Request.

Timeline

Year 3 Grant Application Timeframe

July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027

Funding Details

Resources

Please review the following items and information which are required to complete your application:

• Completed forms and responses to all questions.
• The Grant Application must not exceed 10 pages.
• The required Progress Report and Annual Impact Report must not exceed 5 pages each.
• All inquiries and/or submissions should be sent via email to WageTheftGrant@dir.ca.gov.

Resources to apply:

• Application Overview - Instruction - Year 3 (2026-2027)
• Application Contact Information Form, item 1
• Narrative Questions, items 2-6
• Budget - Form, item 7
• Progress and Annual Impact Reports, item 8
• AB 102, July 10, 2023
• Bill Text - SB-111 Budget Act of 2026

What's

New

• California Labor Commissioner’s Office announces second year of Workers’ Rights Enforcement Grant program
• California Awards 17 Prosecutors $8.55 Million to Prosecute Wage Theft

September 2026