day labor

noun

1. workers hired on a daily basis only, especially unskilled labor.

2. work done by a day laborer.

Word History and Origins

Origin of day labor¹

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50

Example Sentences

Ernesto Ayala, the site coordinator at the Van Nuys Day Labor Center in the Home Depot parking lot, said ICE agents have been to the site several times, as recently as a few weeks ago.

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She said agents may not stop persons based “solely” on four factors: their race or apparent ethnicity, the fact they speak Spanish, the type of work they do, or their location such as a day labor pickup site or a car wash.

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Adopt a Day Labor Corner — The National Day Laborer Organizing Network is building a network of volunteers who regularly show up to a location where day laborers gather.

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The judge sharply criticized the federal government’s defense, stating the evidence showed that agents disproportionately targeted people based on race, language, and location, such as bus stops and day labor sites, often detaining even U.S. citizens.

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Ayala is a U.S. citizen and works as an outreach coordinator at the Van Nuys Day Labor Center, helping connect migrant workers to resources and jobs, Meagean Ortiz, executive director of IDEPSCA, told The Times.

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