The Business Growth Protection Act amends New Jersey laws concerning temporary help service firms and temporary laborers, introducing several key provisions aimed at enhancing protections for laborers while ensuring compliance from firms and their clients. The bill defines "designated classification placement" for temporary laborers and clarifies that agricultural crew leaders are not included in this category. It mandates that temporary help service firms maintain detailed records of labor transactions, provide itemized wage statements, and prohibits charging laborers for cashing checks or background checks. Additionally, the Act ensures that laborers are paid at least the minimum wage and protects their rights to accept permanent positions with third-party clients, establishing penalties for violations.

Further changes include a new fee structure for firms, allowing them to charge clients based on an hourly commission rate and requiring disclosure of maximum fees on wage payment forms. The bill also outlines certification requirements for firms, including proof of unemployment insurance and workers' compensation, and imposes civil penalties for non-compliance. It addresses retaliation against laborers exercising their rights, establishing a rebuttable presumption of retaliation for disciplinary actions within 90 days. Notably, the Act limits its applicability to temporary laborers working within New Jersey, modifies itemized statement requirements, and adjusts the surety bond requirement for firms. The pay equity provision is revised to focus solely on equal pay, and the rebuttable presumption of retaliation concerning assignment terminations is altered to prevent presumption based solely on assignment terminations.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 34:8D-2, 34:8D-4, 34:8D-6, 34:8D-7, 34:8D-8, 34:8D-10