Filipino caregivers denied wages in $4.4 million misclassification case

LOS ANGELES — Filipino caregivers were among the more than 140 workers who were denied wages, workplace protections and basic labor rights after being misclassified as independent contractors by a Canoga Park–based home care agency.

Hart Placement Agency Inc., operated by a mother-and-son team along with principals Annie Ghaw and Hartmann Ghaw, faces $4,423,450 in citations, according to the California Labor Commissioner’s Office.

Of that total, $4,266,450 represents unpaid wages owed to 144 caregivers who performed essential care work without receiving legal protections such as accurate wage statements and paid sick leave.

Pilipino Workers Center Executive Director Aquilina Soriano Versoza | FILE PHOTO

The Pilipino Workers Center (PWC) referred the case to the state and supported workers throughout the investigation, which was conducted by the Labor Commissioner’s Bureau of Field Enforcement from October 2022 through December 2024.

Caregivers are exploited

“This case exposes a system that profits from the vulnerability of immigrant workers,” said Aquilina Soriano Versoza, executive director of PWC.

“Too often, caregivers are exploited and denied basic protections, fair pay, and dignity in the workplace. These workers have courageously come forward, and that is what made accountability possible.”

California State Labor Commissioner Lilia García-Brower | CONTRIBUTED

California Labor Commissioner Lilia Garcia-Brower emphasized the essential role of caregivers and the consequences of misclassification.

“Caregivers perform difficult, essential work in people’s homes – bathing, dressing, cleaning, and caring for those who cannot care for themselves,” Garcia-Brower said.

“Many are already underpaid for this demanding work, and misclassifying them compounds the injustice by denying workers the basic protections and rights they deserve.”

Investigation

The investigation found that caregivers were required to obtain business licenses, register fictitious business names and open business bank accounts – steps typically associated with independent contractors.

However, the agency kept control over workers’ schedules, duties and pay conditions, which under California law classifies them as employees.

For many workers, the arrangement created confusion, financial strain and a lack of basic protections.

“At the time I was hired, I had to sign documents stating that I was an independent contractor,” said Gabriel, a worker for Hart Placement Agency. “The agency directed me to set up my own business by getting a business permit, registering a fictitious business name and opening a bank account under that name just to be able to work for them.”

No overtime pay, sick days

Another caregiver described the toll of those conditions: “Even though I worked full-time, I didn’t get overtime, sick days, or any benefits. When I got sick due to stress from my work, I had to pay for my own medical care. It felt unfair – I was doing the same work as other caregivers, but without the protections. I knew I had rights as a worker, but I didn’t realize this could be misclassification until someone from PWC explained it to me.”

Worker advocates say the case reflects a broader pattern of exploitation in the home care industry, where misclassification can strip workers of both legal protections and dignity.

Human trafficking

In a separate criminal case highlighting related abuses, San Diego County prosecutors filed human trafficking and wage theft charges against operators of two residential care facilities for the elderly after workers alleged they were forced to work around the clock for substandard pay.

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According to the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, defendants Rolando “Bobby” Solancho Corpuz, 57, and Maria Elsabel Sio Corpuz, 41, were charged with multiple counts of wage theft and human trafficking. Investigators allege the pair exploited workers’ immigration status, requiring them to work 24-hour shifts while paying as little as $150 per day and withholding significant portions of their wages.

The case began after a worker contacted the Pilipino Workers Center to report abusive conditions. PWC referred the complaint to the San Diego County Office of Labor Standards and Enforcement, which later escalated the case for criminal prosecution.

One worker reported being required to live at the facility, share a room with a patient and perform duties including cooking, cleaning, bathing residents and administering medicationde – spite lacking proper certification.

Unpaid wages

Authorities later determined the worker was owed more than $175,000 in unpaid wages. Additional victims reported similar conditions, including uncompensated overnight shifts and pay that fell below minimum wage requirements.

“This case is a chilling example of human trafficking hiding in plain sight within our community,” San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan said in a statement. “These defendants didn’t just steal wages – they stripped away the dignity and fundamental rights of vulnerable individuals.”

PWC leaders say both cases – though different in scale and legal classification – highlight systemic issues in the caregiving industry, particularly for immigrant workers who may be unaware of their rights or hesitant to report abuse.

Empowering workers

Versoza said PWC will continue its efforts to educate workers, support complaints and hold employers accountable.

“When workers are informed and empowered, they can join with their co-workers and better protect their rights,” she said. “When we push back against systems that allow abuse and exploitation to persist, our communities thrive.”

The Labor Commissioner issued citations and Notices to Discontinue Labor Law Violations on October 1, 2025. Hart Placement Agency has appealed the citations, and a hearing is pending.

The Pilipino Workers Center of Southern California is a grassroots nonprofit that organizes low-wage and immigrant Pilipinx communities and advocates for labor rights, particularly in the domestic worker industry.

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