Los Angeles garment contractor to pay back wages, penalties after US Department of Labor finds overtime violations

WEST COVINA, CA – Garment industry workers have too often fallen victim to employers who fail to pay these vulnerable workers all of the wages they have legally earned. A recent U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division investigation found a Los Angeles garment contractor continuing this trend and held them accountable.

Investigators found Sew Nice Inc. violated the Fair Labor Standards Act when the employer:

• Paid some employees a piece-rate, failing to pay them required overtime when they worked more than 40 hours in a workweek.
• Violated recordkeeping requirements when it failed to keep a record of all wages paid to some workers paid in cash, failed to keep an accurate record of all the hours employees worked, and failed to maintain payroll records for the required number of months.

The investigation will result in the recovery of $5,846 in back wages to 10 employees. The garment contractor will also pay $3,485 in penalties because of the willful nature of the violations found.  

“These vulnerable workers deserve to receive every penny of their hard-earned wages, and the Wage and Hour Division remains committed to ensuring that happens,” said Wage and Hour Division Assistant District Director Rafael Valles in West Covina, California. “Our work in this industry continues, and aims to prevent employers from short-changing employees, ignoring the overtime pay requirements and gaining an unfair competitive advantage over those employers who play by the rules. Workers facing similar circumstances should call us confidentially to file a complaint. We enforce the law regardless of workers’ immigration status, and can speak with callers in more than 200 languages.”

Sew Nice Inc. produces garments for manufacturer Anna Bella sold by several retailers, including Fashion Nova.

For more information about the FLSA and other laws enforced by the division, contact its toll-free helpline at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243). Learn more about the Wage and Hour Division, including a search tool to use if you think you may be owed back wages collected by the division.

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