Press Release

For Immediate Release

Contact Information
Cynthia Santana
Phone: 206-256-5291
Email: cynthia.santana@seattle.gov

Seattle Office of Labor Standards Launches FIFA World Cup 26 Seattle^TM  Strategic Compliance Campaign

 "Protecting Worker Rights is the Goal”

Seattle, WA (February 18, 2026) - Seattle Office of Labor Standards (OLS) announces a strategic compliance campaign to protect workers and support businesses during the Seattle FIFA World Cup 26^TM activities. From June 11^th through July 19^th, Seattle will host one of the largest global sporting events in 2026 with an unprecedented visitor activity and workforce demand leading up to and during the tournament in June and July.

This coordinated initiative includes multilingual worker education, business outreach, enforcement in high violation industries and expanded employer trainings to promote compliance with Seattle’s labor standards before and during the 2026 events.

The "Protecting Worker Rights is the Goal” initiative focuses on industries expected to see rapid expansion and high turnover during the tournament period.

Priority industries include:

• Hotels and short-term lodging
• Stadium contractors and vendors (food service, janitorial, security, staffing)
• Restaurants, bars, and event-catering businesses
• Security companies
• Temporary staffing agencies
• App-based delivery platforms

“This strategic compliance campaign will mark one of OLS’ most coordinated proactive initiatives to date and speaks to our commitment to protect workers, support businesses, and maintain strong labor standards throughout the FIFA World Cup 26 Seattle^TM,” said OLS Director Steven Marchese. “OLS has already resolved significant investigations in industries central to the event including a $186,000 settlement with a stadium concessions operator for Secure Scheduling and Paid Sick & Safe Time allegations and a $3.78 million settlement benefiting more than 10,900 app-based workers for alleged violations of Seattle’s gig-worker protections. Both underscore the importance of compliance and consequences of failing to adhere to Seattle’s Labor Laws. These outcomes reinforce our goal: a successful event in which workers’ rights are fully respected.”

Key enforcement strategies to include:

• Investigations focused on high-violation industries

• Stadium vendor compliance

• Worker-focused activities
• Employer-focused activities

“As the excitement for the upcoming summer events builds so does the demand for workers. We are grateful the Office of Labor Standards continues to bring to light injustices in the workplace by launching its strategic enforcement efforts to prevent violations of worker’s rights in Seattle,” said UNITE HERE Local 8 Secretary Treasurer Stefan Moritz. “Local 8 members are the core of the region’s hospitality industry that include room cleaners, front desk agents, concessions workers, cooks, bartenders, servers and other workers who will be essential to FIFA World Cup 26^TM  and Seattle’s overall success. UNITE HERE’s diverse membership is built on workers from immigrant communities and women. They are the backbone of Seattle’s workforce and deserve dignity in the workplace.”

“Having access to OLS through trusted community partners provides indigenous workers with knowledge and courage to truly embrace their worker rights. OLS gives the community a voice that needs to be heard,” said OLS Community Outreach and Education Fund partner United Indians of All Tribes Foundation.

Live Employer Compliance Trainings for 2026

(Virtual via Microsoft Teams | 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM) Registration Link for All Sessions: https://www.seattle.gov/laborstandards/training-and-events/training#livetrainings

• May 12, 2026 – Hotel & Hospitality Compliance Training
• August 11, 2026 – Fair Chance Employment, Minimum Wage, Paid Sick and Safe Time, and Wage Theft
• November 10, 2026 – Fair Chance Employment, Minimum Wage, Paid Sick and Safe Time, and Wage Theft

Additional industry-focused training may be added for temporary staffing, short-term rentals, security companies, and app-based platforms.

• To learn more about the OLS strategic compliance campaign visit the OLS Special Events webpage.
• To learn more about Seattle’s labor standards visit the OLS Ordinances webpage.
• Help for workers and the public: to ask a question, file a complaint, or provide information, call 206-256-5297, email laborstandards@seattle.gov, or to fill out a worker inquiry web form visit the Worker Resources – File a Complaint webpage.
• Help for employers: for free and private assistance for compliance with Seattle’s labor standards, call 206-256-5297, email laborstandards@seattle.gov or to fill out an employer/ hiring entity inquiry web form visit the Employer and Hiring Entity Resources webpage. 

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