California Workplace Outreach Project (CWOP) Program Year 2026-2027 Supplemental Funding

The California Labor and Workforce Development Agency (LWDA), through the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR), is issuing this Supplemental Request for Applications (RFA) for the California Workplace Outreach Project (CWOP) for Program Year 2026-2027. This RFA aims to supplement the current CWOP cohort by empowering community-based organizations (CBOs) to serve as trusted messengers. The program focuses on providing comprehensive education regarding workplace protections, including improving safety and health conditions, combating wage theft, protecting against retaliation, and informing workers about their rights to benefits and medical care for work-related illnesses and injuries. CWOP emphasizes accessible outreach materials in multiple languages to serve California's diverse workforce. It will utilize interactive engagement methods such as workshops and seminars, and direct outreach efforts to engage both workers and employers in discussions about safety practices, rights, and resources, irrespective of immigration status. Collaboration with CBOs, labor unions, occupational health centers, and agricultural associations is a key component. Special attention will be given to rural strategic engagement, providing targeted outreach and legal resources to underserved areas. Priority topics include workplace health and safety (e.g., heat illness), paid sick leave, wage theft, Workers' Compensation, anti-retaliation protections, and complaint filing procedures. The program will focus on high-risk industries such as agriculture, car wash, food processing, food service, janitorial, hospitality, warehouse/logistics, manufacturing, garment, and residential care.