News Release
US Labor Department to use billboards to inform workers, employers of wage rights, responsibilities as Hurricane Fiona recovery continues
Who: U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division Caribbean District Office.
What: The Caribbean District Office is launching a digital billboard campaign to assist workers and employers with questions regarding compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act and provide confidential guidance. The billboards will be located in seven areas significantly impacted by Hurricane Fiona: Mayaguez, Ponce, Isabela, Toa Baja, Luquillo, Caguas and Metro. Messages will appear in Spanish 24 hours, 7 days per week for 30 days, starting Feb. 6, 2023, to reach the largest audience possible.
Background: On Sept. 18, 2022, Hurricane Fiona hit Puerto Rico, causing significant flooding and widespread power blackouts. Since then, the Wage and Hour Division professionals in the Caribbean District Office have provided compliance assistance to employers and employees to improve their awareness of their respective obligations and rights in a post-storm environment. Division investigations have found that many storm-related FLSA violations involve misclassification of employees as independent contractors and employers failing to pay employees for all hours worked, both of which often result in overtime violations.
Quote: “The U.S. Department of Labor works tirelessly to ensure that workers who help communities recover from devastating storms are paid all of their legally earned wages and benefits,” explained Wage and Hour District Director José R. Vázquez-Fernández in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. “We are always ready to equip employers with the information and guidance they need to prevent costly violations.”
