CLS Provides Legal Aid to Asian American Victims of Wage Theft

Nonprofit partner Community Legal Services (CLS) is supporting the Asian American community through free legal clinics in South Philly and Chinatown for victims of wage theft. Asian American workers in Philadelphia are at a greater risk for wage theft and have more difficulty accessing translations. Due to a combination of poverty, language, and cultural barriers, many Asian American immigrants do not know their rights as employees. 

Chi-Ser Tran, a Temple University graduate and Yale fellow, leads both of the CLS clinics in South Philly and Chinatown. Tran emphasizes that another purpose of the CLS project is to combat the model minority myth for Asian Americans, the idea that Asian Americans are well off and do not face any issues in society. Through CLS’ free weekly legal support, Asian American workers have greater access to education, resources, and bi-lingual mediation or legal representation in court.

To learn more about Community Legal Services please visit their website and read more about this project on WHYY Newsworks.