Wage and Hour Division (WHD)
Press Releases
U.S. Department of Labor |
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US Department of Labor investigation finds Sterling, Va., information systems company owes $92,000 in back wages
STERLING, Va. -- The U.S. Department of Labor has cited EcomNets Inc. for alleged violations of the H-1B provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act, uncovering $92,032.06 in back wages due 13 workers.
An investigation by the department’s Wage and Hour Division found that the Sterling company violated the law when it failed to pay workers hired as information systems personnel under the H-1B program the proper wages, to make labor condition applications and necessary documentation available for public examination, and to secure labor condition applications for all work locations.
“We are committed to protecting U.S. workers by aggressively enforcing H-1B requirements to make certain that employers do not abuse the program,” said John R. Kelly, acting director of the Wage and Hour Division’s Baltimore Office.
The H-1B visa program permits employers to temporarily hire foreign workers in professional occupations such as computer programmers, engineers, physicians and teachers. H-1B workers must be paid the same wage rates paid to U.S. workers who perform the same types of work or the prevailing wage rate in the areas of intended employment, whichever is higher.
The Wage and Hour Division enforces the H-1B wage provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act, in addition to other federal laws pertaining to wage payments. For more information about the H-1B program, call the division’s toll-free helpline at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243) or visit the Labor Department’s Web site at http://www.dol.gov/whd/immigration/h1b.htm.
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