ATA Issues Statement on AB 5 and Mandatory Employee Classification

The recent passage of Assembly Bill 5 — or AB 5 — in California will reclassify freelance translators and interpreters as employees beginning January 1, with devastating effect financially on many of our colleagues working in the state. New York and New Jersey have now begun drafting similar legislation.

These laws are intended to address inequities in the “gig economy.” The business of freelance translation and interpreting is far from that. And yet the profession is
caught up in a generic definition of what it means to be a “freelancer.”

In September, the American Translators Association joined forces with other T&I organizations to request an exemption from AB 5 for translators and interpreters. 

The association is now actively supporting the Coalition of Practicing Translators and Interpreters of California to continue advocating for the exemption. 

Read ATA’s position statements and get involved in standing up for your profession!

• ATA Position on AB 5 and Mandatory Employee Classification statement. Lend your support to the request for an exemption for translators and interpreters.
• ATA Position on Mandatory Employee Classification Legislation statement opposing the inclusion of translators and interpreters in mandatory employee classification legislation.
• Is your state considering mandatory employee classification? Download and modify ATA’s statement template on mandatory employee classification legislation to let your representatives in the legislature know how this will impact you as a freelancer.
• Give us a heads up on the legislation with an email to president@atanet.org.

For more information about ATA, please visit www.atanet.org.