Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

ESA Press Release: Labor Department Releases Second Quarter '99 Garment Enforcement Report [11/04/1999]

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The U.S. Department of Labor recovered $ 153,199 in back wages for 548 garment workers during January, February and March 1999, for minimum wage and overtime violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act.

The department's latest quarterly garment enforcement report lists 40 contractors and 81 manufacturers. California had the most investigations at 39; the most investigations with violations at 17, and the most back wages recovered at $93,474 for 302 workers.

"Regrettably, this report reminds us again that garment workers continue to be denied their rightful wages," Secretary of Labor Alexis M. Herman said. "They are among our most vulnerable and underpaid workers."

During the second quarter of fiscal 1999, the department's Wage and Hour Division conducted 82 investigations, finding violations in 31 cases. The department also assessed $72,900 in civil penalties for repeat and willful violations of the minimum wage and overtime laws.

The department began issuing quarterly Garment Enforcement Reports in 1996 to provide retailers and consumers with information about contractors that violate the minimum wage and overtime laws and the manufacturers they do business with.

Previous Garment Enforcement Reports are available on the Internet at the Labor Department's home page at www.dol.gov.

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.