May 26, 2011

Judge finds Decatur-Ill. Mexican restaurants liable for more than $1 million in back wages and damages after US Labor Department investigation

URBANA, Ill. — A federal judge in Urbana has ordered Dolores Onate, owner, and Ricardo Onate, manager, of the El Matador Inc. and El Caporal Inc. restaurants in Decatur to pay a total of $1,149,702.50 in back wages and damages to 64 workers employed as servers and kitchen staff. This judgment resolves a lawsuit filed by the U.S.

May 19, 2011

Judge orders payment of $347,000 in back wages and penalties, 3-year debarment of Global Horizons from H-2A agricultural program

SAN FRANCISCO — The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a judgment requiring Los Angeles-based Global Horizons Inc. and president Mordechai Orian to pay $153,000 in back wages to 88 temporary agricultural workers from Thailand employed in Hawaii, plus $194,000 in civil money penalties, for committing significant violations of the federal H-2A temporary nonimmigrant agricultural laborer program.

May 9, 2011

Keeping track of wages: The US Labor Department has an app for that!

New timesheet app to help ensure workers receive all wages earned

May 3, 2011

US Labor Department recovers nearly $2.9 million in back wages for more than 500 contract employees of Stanley Associates and subcontractors

BOSTON — The U.S. Department of Labor has recovered nearly $2.9 million in back wages for more than 500 employees of Stanley Associates Inc. and several subcontractors at various locations in St. Albans and Essex Junction, Vt.

April 28, 2011

US Labor Department announces protocols for certifying U visa applications

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced protocols to complete the portion of the U visa nonimmigrant status application requiring certification by a law enforcement agency that the applicant is a victim of a qualifying crime and willing to cooperate with law enforcement in the investigation and prosecution of that crime. U visas, as they are known, are designed to help victims of qualifying criminal activities who have suffered substantial physical or mental abuse.

April 27, 2011

US Labor Department secures court ruling requiring Texas-based Henrys Turkey Service to pay $1.76 million to workers at Iowa processing plant

DES MOINES, Iowa — The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a partial summary judgment requiring Hill Country Farms, doing business as Henry's Turkey Service, and president Kenneth Henry to pay more than $1.76 million in back wages and liquidated damages for violating the minimum wage and overtime provisions of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act. The judgment partially resolves a lawsuit filed by the Labor Department following an investigation by the Des Moines District Office of its Wage and Hour Division.

April 12, 2011

US Department of Labor debars Seattle-based federal contractor for violating minimum wage, overtime and record-keeping laws

HWA provided services in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Missouri and New York

April 6, 2011

US Labor Department secures judgment with contempt finding against Long Island catering hall, restaurant and officers

Company also facing fines for repeated and willful violations of Fair Labor Standards Act

April 4, 2011

Prince Georges County Public Schools charged with violating provisions of H-1B temporary foreign worker program

US Department of Labor orders $4.2 million in back wages be paid to 1,044 teachers, fines school system $1.7 million in civil money penalties

March 30, 2011

Arizona underground utility contractor agrees to pay $750,000 in overtime back wages following US Labor Department investigation

740 employees in California, Arizona and Nevada to be compensated

HESPERIA, Calif. — Arizona Pipeline Co. has agreed to pay $750,000 in back wages to 740 employees following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division, which found that the company violated the overtime and record keeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act.

March 29, 2011

Levi Strauss agrees to pay more than $1 million in overtime back wages to nearly 600 employees following US Labor Department investigation

Overtime violations found at retail stores nationwide

SAN FRANCISCO — Levi Strauss & Co. has agreed to pay $1,011,413 in overtime back wages to 596 employees nationwide after the U.S. Department of Labor found that the company violated overtime and recordkeeping provisions of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act.

March 24, 2011

US Labor Department reminds South Florida farmworkers of their rights under federal child labor, wages, crew transportation and field sanitation laws

Investigators visiting farms in South Florida to ensure compliance

MIAMI — The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division is reminding agricultural workers in South Florida that their rights are protected by the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Occupational Safety and Health Act's Field Sanitation Standard. Virtually all employees engaged in agriculture are covered by federal law because they produce goods for interstate commerce.

March 7, 2011

US Labor Department recovers more than $219,000 in back wages and liquidated damages for 44 misclassified Boston-area restaurant employees

Labor contractor held in contempt of court for failing to cooperate with investigators

March 3, 2011

US Labor Department seeks debarment of construction contractor for labor violations at New York City publicly funded housing projects

NEW YORK — The U.S. Department of Labor has taken legal action to seek debarment of Lettire Construction Corp., a New York City general contractor, and Nicholas Lettire, president of the company, from working on future federally funded contracts for a period of three years.

March 1, 2011

US Labor Department fines Marcus Theatres, Regal Cinemas and Wehrenberg movie theatre chains more than $277,000 for child labor violations

CHICAGO — The U.S. Department of Labor has assessed a total of $277,475 in civil money penalties against three movie theatre companies, Marcus Theatre Corp., Regal Cinemas Inc. and Wehrenberg Inc., for allowing dozens of teens to perform hazardous jobs and work longer hours than allowed by the youth employment provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act.

March 1, 2011

US Department of Labors subpoena against Boston area labor broker upheld by US Court of Appeals

BOSTON — The U.S. Department of Labor scored an important victory in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit against Operation Management Group Co. Inc., a contractor that supplied personnel to restaurants and other service industries in the greater Boston area, and its owner, Adilso Bosi.

February 24, 2011

US Labor Department collects $2 million in back wages, civil money penalties from Houston-based Hong Kong Market grocery chain

HOUSTON — The U.S. Department of Labor has recovered $1.8 million in back wages for nearly 400 workers and collected $200,000 in civil money penalties from Houston-based grocery stores Hong Land Corp., Hong Kong Group Inc., Pacific Ocean Enterprise Inc. and B&B Corner Corp., all doing business as Hong Kong Market, and store owners Hai Du Duong and Ha Duong.

February 24, 2011

US Labor Department lawsuit recovers $780,000 in back wages and liquidated damages for 40 employees of Long Island, NY, pizzeria

WESTBURY, N.Y. — The U.S. Department of Labor has recovered $780,000 in back wages and liquidated damages for 40 employees of Martino's Pizzeria Inc., doing business as Mama's Pizzeria and Restaurant, in Copiague, N.Y., resolving a lawsuit filed against the company for violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act.