AFTER an investigation conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor found violations in Fair Labor Standards Act provisions on minimum wage, overtime and record-keeping, World Electric & Construction Co. Inc., or Wecco, has agreed to pay back wages worth $79,138 to 12 of its workers, according to a USDOL news release.
Terence Trotter, district director of the Wage and Hour Division in Honolulu, Hawaii, said: “These employees now will receive proper wages for all hours worked. ... Other employers should take note and ensure that they are paying their employees in compliance with the FLSA.”
Prior to the decision, the Honolulu district office, which oversees Guam, found that Wecco paid their employees less than the required minimum wage during their initial period of employment. The employees instead “received a meal allowance of $10 per day, with no additional wages for several weeks,” according to the news release.
Moreover, USDOL said employees put in 30 to 40 hours for several weeks and did not receive “overtime premium for hours worked beyond 40 hours in a week.” In addition, the company did not maintain an accurate record of employees’ hours worked.
Based on FLSA regulations, “non-exempt employees should be paid at least the federal minimum wage of $7.25 for all hours worked." For hours worked beyond the regular 40 hours, “employees are entitled to commissions, bonuses and incentive pay.”
FLSA also requires employers to keep “accurate records of employees’ wages, hours and other conditions of employment.”
Additional information about the FLSA and other federal wage laws may be accessed here. They also have a toll-free-helpline at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243).
Wecco ordered to pay $79,000 in back wages
- Wednesday, 25 Jul 2012 03:30am
- BY LOUELLA LOSINIO | VARIETY NEWS STAFF
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