Nationally, billions of dollars in wages are stolen from workers each year by employers ranging from small neighborhood businesses to Wal-Mart. Wage theft occurs when workers are not paid all their wages, workers are denied overtime when they should be paid it, or workers aren’t paid at all for work they’ve performed.
Osceola County is scheduled to vote Monday, March 16, 5:30 pm. on an ordinance that would make it easier for employees and independent contractors to fight wage theft outside of the court system. The ordinance is based on a similar measure from Miami-Dade County that requires a response from an employer and authorizes subpoena powers and a hearing. In Miami-Dade, which passed a wage-theft measure in 2010, there have been 1,988 qualified claims and $1.8 million in claims and penalties. If approved, a hearing officer would be able to issue a written decision ordering an employer to pay “an amount equal to three times the amount of back wages” the employee or subcontractor is owed, plus administrative costs. The county could also revoke business licenses. Hospitality and construction, both of which are major industries in the county, are two of the biggest industries accused of wage theft. Sunshine Advocacy is assisting congregations in Osceola County to share their stories at the hearing.
sunshineadvocacy.com 