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Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
For more information call: 202-219-8211
The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a civil suit
against several individuals allegedly responsible for operating a garment
sewing shop in El Monte, California (and two other locations) where 72 Thai
workers were forced to work in conditions of slavery.
In an Aug. 2 raid, labor department and California state
investigators discovered that the workers toiled as many as 16 hours a day for
as little as 70 cents an hour. Workers have said they were held in captivity at
the El Monte location, which was surrounded by razor-wire fences.
The suit seeks to recover approximately $5 million in
unpaid back wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages. It also seeks to
enjoin the defendants from future violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act
(FLSA).
"This is another step to remedy the incredibly abusive,
inhuman conditions in this particular sweatshop," said Labor Secretary Robert
B. Reich. "We intend to pursue every avenue to prosecute those responsible for
the appalling mistreatment of these workers, and to punish them within the full
extent of the law."
"The discovery of the outrageous abuse of these workers
shows that we must continue to be vigilant in our concern for the most
vulnerable workers in this country," continued Reich. "In the garment industry,
we remain committed to working with the retailers and manufacturers who do
business with garment contractors to bring meaningful and long-term
improvements in compliance with labor laws within the industry. I am encouraged
that some of the nation's largest retailers have already accepted our
invitation to participate in a summit planned for early September."
Named in the suit filed Tuesday in the U.S. District Court
for the Central District of California are Tuvee Uvawas, Sunee
Manasulangkoon,Suporn Veraytwilai, Thanes Panthong, Prawit Phapharasujserm,
Sanchai Pongprapin, Nuttaphan Ketwattha and Rampa Suthaprasit.
In addition to this civil court action, the department is
considering assessing significant civil money penalties for the willful
violations of the FLSA. Criminal prosecution of the labor violations is
expected as well. In addition, the department is asking the manufacturers who
used the El Monte sweatshop and its associated locations to sign contractor
compliance monitoring agreements and to assume a share of any back wage
liability that is not recoverable from the defendants.
Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
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