In a recent development, the U.S. Department of Labor has recovered $4.8 million in back wages for 476 workers in California. The recovery was made after an investigation into multiple businesses in Los Angeles, including Fu Qian Chen Lu, Bruce Shu Hua Lok and others.
The probe found that these businesses violated federal wage laws by underpaying their employees. Some workers were paid as little as $221,919 for their labor, significantly below the federal minimum wage.
Furthermore, some businesses failed to pay overtime wages when employees worked more than 40 hours a week. In one instance, a business was fined $1 million for failing to maintain accurate records of employees' work hours and wages.
In response to these findings, Seema Nanda, Solicitor of Labor stated: "When employers fail to pay legally required wages, they are denying workers their hard-earned income." She further emphasized the importance of adhering to federal wage laws and warned that violations would not be tolerated.
The Department of Labor began its investigation in January 2024 and concluded it later that year. During this period, investigators uncovered numerous instances of wage theft and underpayment across various industries.
The Department's Wage and Hour Division has been vigilant in enforcing federal labor standards to protect workers' rights. Jessica Looman, Deputy Administrator for the division noted: "Our enforcement levels the playing field for law-abiding employers."
As part of its enforcement efforts, the Department has also launched an app available on Android and iOS platforms. The app allows users to calculate their rightful wages based on their work hours and pay rates.
