Investigations conducted as part of ongoing enforcement initiative in South Carolina's restaurant industry

Wage and Hour Division finds systemic labor violations at 21 day care centers in 8 states

AUSTIN, Texas — The U.S. Department of Labor has settled a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, Austin Division against Hao Hao Inc., doing business as Hao Hao Restaurant, in Austin, and its owner Kevin Quach, for violations of the minimum wage, overtime and child labor provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act. The company and Quach have agreed to pay more than $70,000 owed to 10 current and former kitchen staff and servers.

VALENTINE, Neb. — The U.S. Department of Labor has assessed a total of $46,602 in civil money penalties against Valentine Livestock Auction Co. in Nebraska after a 15-year-old employee was crushed against a metal gate by a stampeding calf while herding cattle in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act's child labor provisions.

DAYTON, Ohio —— The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio has found Cascom Inc. liable for back wages and liquidated damages totaling $1,474,266 owed to approximately 250 cable installers the Fairfield, Ohio, company misclassified as independent contractors in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Landmark enhanced compliance measures also secured covering company and its subcontractors on federal prevailing wage construction projects

OSHA proposes more than $34,000 in fines for exposing workers to hazards; Wage and Hour Division seeks nearly $214,000 in back wages and penalties

Agreement provides record back wage amount for H-2A program, plus $500,000 penalty

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Yerington, Nev.-based onion grower Peri & Sons has agreed to pay a record total of $2,338,700 in back wages to 1,365 workers, along with a civil money penalty of $500,000, for violations under the H-2A program.

U.S. Department of Labor Administrative Law Judge Steven Berlin in San Francisco signed the order granting the consent findings.

Experts will answer questions and clarify protections and eligibility

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division will host a free webinar on June 27 at 2 p.m. EDT to help workers and employers understand the Family and Medical Leave Act. The department also has prepared a 16-page booklet, available online, that explains the FLMA and answers common questions.

Trainings to be held in Los Angeles, Miami, Philadelphia and Seattle

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division today announced that it will host four free trainings throughout the United States to provide outreach on the rules concerning prevailing wage requirements under the Davis-Bacon Act, the McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act and the labor standards provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

Misapplied exemption resulted in pay violations; nearly $464,000 assessed in penalties

WASHINGTON — Wal-Mart Stores Inc., headquartered in Bentonville, Ark., has agreed to pay $4,828,442 in back wages and damages to more than 4,500 employees nationwide following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division that found violations of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act's overtime provisions. Additionally, Wal-Mart will pay $463,815 in civil money penalties.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today issued the following statement regarding the withdrawal of a proposed rule dealing with children who work in agricultural vocations:

SHAKOPEE, Minn. — Judge Susan Richard Nelson of the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota has entered a consent judgment against Hawkins Tree and Landscaping Inc., a Shakopee company, and its owners, Michael Hawkins and Dawn Hawkins, individually. The judgment orders payment of back wages and liquidated damages in the amount of $478,000 to 57 current and former laborers, drivers, crew leaders and foremen of the company for violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Interested parties may submit comments through April 30

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division has extended the comment period for its proposed rule to implement new statutory amendments to the Family and Medical Leave Act that would expand military family leave provisions and incorporate a special eligibility provision for airline flight crew employees.

Ongoing labor law enforcement efforts aim to remedy violations in restaurant industry

Interested parties may submit comments through March 21

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division has announced a nine-day extension of the comment period for its proposed rule to provide minimum wage and overtime protections for nearly 2 million workers who provide in-home care services.

WASHINGTON — Nancy J. Leppink, deputy administrator of the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division, and Louisiana Workforce Commission Executive Director Curt Eysink signed a memorandum of understanding Feb. 23 regarding the improper classification of employees as independent contractors. This partnership is the 13th of its kind for the U.S. Department of Labor.

Labor Department alleges federal labor law violations during 2011 green bean harvest in Miami-Dade County

Interested parties may submit comments through March 12

WASHINGTON — Nancy J. Leppink, deputy administrator of the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division, and California Secretary of Labor Marty Morgenstern have entered into a memorandum of understanding regarding the improper classification of employees as independent contractors. Leppink and California Labor Commissioner Julie A. Su hosted a press teleconference Feb. 9 during which they discussed how the U.S.