In California, Interpreters Campaign Against Insurers Trying to Undercut Fees

A group of professional interpreters in California has intensified its fight against a provision in the state’s Labor Code that allows insurance companies or even doctors, lawyers, and judges to tap the services of “provisionally certified interpreters” if certified legal and medical interpreters are not available. The California Workers’ Compensation Interpreters Association (CWCIA), founded in 2000 to advocate for the rights and interests of interpreters, is at the forefront of this advocacy. Under California laws, an injured employee who does not proficiently speak or understand the English language is entitled to the services of a qualified interpreter during medical appointments.