A federal judge is ordering two San Juan eateries and their owners to pay $31,630 to 19 workers for back wages after an investigation discovered they violated federal law.

The Labor Department’s Wage and Hour Division recently determined Patricio’s Restaurant Inc., which operated as Jose Jose Restaurant, and El Catador D’Abreu Inc., operating as El Catador D’Abreu Restaurant, as well as the eateries’ owners, Jose Abreu Ramirez and Milagros De Los Santos Gomez, violated laws established under Fair Labor Standards, according to a Wednesday DOL press release.

Jose R. Vazquez-Fernandez, Wage and Hour District director in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, said the law ensures workers are protected and receive the wages they are entitled to. 

“Workers have the right to request payment of their hard-earned wages without fear of retaliation and discrimination for cooperating fully with a U.S. Department of Labor investigation,” Vazquez-Fernandez said in the release. 

Vazquez-Fernandez also said workers who believe their rights have been violated should contact the Wage and Hour Division.

Jeffrey Rogoff, a regional solicitor of labor based in New York, said the DOL will investigate allegations of pay issues, as well as any alleged violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act, the release stated.