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Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
For more information call: 202- 219-8211.
U.S. Secretary of Labor Robert B. Reich today announced
preliminary results from a series of Wage and Hour enforcement actions this
week involving Los Angeles-area garment contractors producing clothing for some
80 manufacturers.
The Labor Department has not yet determined which retail
outlets would have received the finished products.
"In the wake of the horrendous working conditions
uncovered last month in garment shops in El Monte, this week's raids clearly
demonstrate our commitment to enforce laws that protect workers from abusive
labor conditions," Reich said.
A total of 50 garment contractors were investigated by the
Los Angeles area office of the Labor Department's Wage and Hour Division in
joint operations with the California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement.
Preliminary results indicated violations in at least 46 of
the shops, including violations of minimum wage and overtime rules totalling
more than $568,000 owed to some 600 workers.
The contractors were producing garments for an estimated
80 manufacturers, which are being notified by the Wage and Hour Division of
their possible liability for back wages under the "hot goods" provision of the
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). This provision allows the Labor Department to
prevent the interstate transportation of goods produced in violation of the
FLSA.
Earlier this week, Reich convened a "Retail Summit" at the
Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City seeking cooperation from the
retail industry to eliminate exploitation of garment workers.
Following the Tuesday, Sept. 12, summit, Reich described
the session as "a good first step" but said he would like to see the retail
industry use its economic clout "to better protect the one million workers who
cut and sew clothing in the United States."
Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
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