NYC Opens First Worker Power Office for Immigrant Workers

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani signed an executive order on September 7, 2026, creating the Mayor's Office of Worker Power (MOWP) — described by the administration as the first office of its kind in the nation. The order took effect immediately. The office will focus on educating workers about their rights, helping them organize, and proactively investigating employers with histories of labor violations — without waiting for a complaint to be filed first.

Why immigrant workers are at the center of this

Immigrant workers in New York City have long faced some of the worst labor abuses: wage theft, unsafe working conditions, and employers who exploit precarious immigration status to keep workers silent. A Documented investigation found that since President Trump returned to office, employment discrimination based on citizenship or immigration status more than doubled. Many immigrant workers never reported violations out of fear of deportation. Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice Julie Su — who previously served as acting U.S. Secretary of Labor under the Biden administration — told Documented that immigration-based exploitation will be one of MOWP's top priorities. "There are many workers who are working in places where they would like their conditions to improve, but they don't know what they can do to make that happen," Su said.

The office will work alongside the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP), the Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC), and the NYC Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) to develop new investigation protocols. Employers with a track record of violations and companies with a large share of low-wage workers will get priority. Tony Perlstein, a former longshore worker and most recently a director in the United Auto Workers organizing department, was appointed as MOWP's first executive director. Su acknowledged the city cannot replace the federal government's role, but said federal labor agencies have been "largely decimated" under the current administration — leaving a gap that MOWP aims to partially fill.

Labor unions quickly backed the announcement. Manny Pastreich, president of 32BJ SEIU — which represents 185,000 workers across New York City's five boroughs — said the office will be "a key resource in ambitious organizing efforts." Bhairavi Desai, president and co-founder of the 21,000-member New York Taxi Workers Alliance, said she hopes MOWP will finally put the daily labor struggles of mostly immigrant members, including app-based deactivations, "front and center."

What to do

• If you are an immigrant worker in New York City facing wage theft, unsafe conditions, or discrimination based on your immigration status, you can file a complaint with the NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) at dcwp.nyc.gov — MOWP will coordinate with DCWP on investigations.
• You do not need to be a U.S. citizen or have legal immigration status to report a labor violation in New York City. City agencies are not required to ask about your immigration status when you report a workplace complaint.
• Connect with worker centers and unions already active in your industry — MOWP's stated goal is to support and amplify these organizations, not replace them. Groups like 32BJ SEIU and the New York Taxi Workers Alliance are already engaged with the new office.
• Watch for outreach materials and educational events from MOWP. The office plans to develop resources specifically for low-wage and immigrant workers across multiple industries.

What to do, step by step — see our guide “Work Permits (EAD)”.