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Archived News Release--Caution: information may be out of date.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

OPA Press Release: Labor Department Releases Third Quarter '99 Garment Enforcement Report [02/24/2000]

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The U.S. Department of Labor recovered nearly $900,000 in back wages for 2,363 garment workers during April, May and June 1999, for minimum wage and overtime violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act.

The department's latest quarterly garment enforcement report lists 61 contractors and 106 manufacturers that were found to be in violation of the law. The majority of the cases are from New York City. In May and June, the department's Wage and Hour Division conducted its second investigation-based survey of garment shop owners in New York City to determine the level of compliance there.

"There continues to be a low level of compliance in the garment industry in New York City," Secretary of Labor Alexis M. Herman said. "As a result, we are working closely with the U.S. Attorney's Office to bring criminal complaints for the most egregious cases."

The largest case on the report involved an investigation of a New York City shop, Dole Fashion, Inc., which failed to meet its payroll for five weeks before ceasing operations. In addition, the shop failed to pay for all hours worked and proper overtime. Some employees worked as many as 54 hours per week. The three manufacturers contracting for the production of goods in the shop made restitution.

The overall summary enforcement statistics for the third quarter of fiscal 1999 show that the Wage and Hour Division conducted a total of 205 investigations nationwide, finding violations in more than half (109) of the cases and back wages due of $927,204. The department also assessed civil penalties of $82,570 for repeat and willful violations of the minimum wage and overtime laws. The criminal cases are still pending in federal court.

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. In addition to the quarterly enforcement reports which cover all garment investigations, each year the department conducts an intensive investigative survey in certain cities to determine the overall level of compliance in that city's garment industry.

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.