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. Notably, the bill defines "designated classification placement" and clarifies that temporary laborers do not include certain agricultural crew leaders. It mandates that temporary help service firms maintain detailed records of labor transactions, including hours worked and wages paid, and outlines the responsibilities of third-party clients in providing accurate time records. The act also establishes penalties for violations related to recordkeeping and wage payment, while requiring firms to provide itemized wage statements and prohibiting them from charging laborers for cashing checks or background checks.

Additionally, the bill revises wage requirements, ensuring temporary laborers receive at least the entry-level pay rate of third-party clients and imposes civil penalties for violations. It introduces a new definition for "hourly commission rate" and outlines the conditions under which placement fees can be charged, including the requirement to disclose maximum fees on wage payment forms. The act also protects laborers' rights to accept permanent positions and adjusts the surety bond requirement for firms. Importantly, it limits the law's applicability to temporary laborers working within New Jersey and modifies the rebuttable presumption of retaliation concerning assignment terminations, ensuring no presumption arises solely from the termination of a scheduled temporary assignment.

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