California Labor Commissioner Cites Over $269,000 For Violations To Agriculture Businesses

San Francisco, CA  (CompNewsNetwork) - Officials with the California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (Labor Commissioner's Office) issued citations totaling over $269,000 in fines to agriculture businesses in a statewide two-day enforcement sweep as part of an ongoing effort to address illegal operations in the underground economy.

“Our efforts are directed at illegally operating businesses as part of the underground economy,” said California Labor Commissioner Angela Bradstreet. “These illegal operations have a negative impact on our state's economy, do not provide the protection workers are legally afforded, and have an unfair advantage over competitors who do follow the law.”

Twenty-four teams of investigators conducted the two-day sweeps on Sept. 24-25. Out of 194 inspections, 35 agriculture businesses were cited.

Twenty-five agriculture businesses received stop work notices until they can provide workers' compensation insurance for their employees. The violations included failure to:

Provide work permits for minors;
Failure to pay the minimum wage;
Provide employees with an itemized wage deduction statement;
Pay overtime wages;
Pay the annual registration with the Commissioner's Office and
Provide workers' compensation.
To request a complete list of the violations and businesses cited, email the Department of Industrial Relations at: Communications@dir.ca.gov.
“We will continue to strengthen our efforts in addressing these types of violations that are typically associated with the underground economy,” added Bradstreet.

The Division of Labor Standards Enforcement adjudicates wage claims, investigates discrimination and public works complaints, and enforces state labor law and Industrial Welfare Commission wage orders. To learn more about the functions of the California Labor Commissioner, visit our web site at www.dir.ca.gov/dlse.

Employees that have work-related questions or complaints can call the California Workers' Information Hotline at 1-866-924-9757.

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