Wage and Hour Division (WHD)

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SAN FRANCISCO -- An investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division has found that a Los Angeles garment contractor owes $56,018 in overtime back wages to 42 workers. Silkscreen Printing Inc., doing business as Shockwave Creations, did not pay its workers the required rate for overtime hours worked between June 1, 2004 and Feb. 4, 2006.

The Labor Department’s investigation resulted from a call to the helpline for Spanish-speaking workers and employers known as EMPLEO (Employment Education and Outreach).

The investigation found that the company failed to pay the overtime premium when employees worked more than 40 hours in a work week. Interviews with workers revealed that employees worked an average of 58 hours per week. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) requires that non-exempt employees be paid no less than the federal minimum wage and one and one-half times their regular pay rate for hours worked more than 40 per week. Shockwave Creations also failed to keep complete pay records.

"EMPLEO referrals are taken very seriously at the Department of Labor,” said George Friday Jr., regional administrator of the Labor Department’s Wage and Hour Division. “This toll free helpline most often benefits low-wage and immigrant workers, a population vulnerable to unfair labor practices."

Friday said that calls to the EMPLEO line have helped recover almost $4.35 million in back wages for 2,267 employees since the program began July 1, 2004.

Shockwave Creations, owned by Alex Kang and Hyung Mi Chang, is a garment contractor specializing in silk screen T-shirts. The employees work as machine operators, painters, sample makers, and packers.

The EMPLEO toll-free helpline, 1-877-55-AYUDA (877-552-9832), serves the greater Los Angeles area providing information on workplace concerns to employees and employers in Spanish. Callers are assisted by volunteers who refer them to the appropriate EMPLEO partner.

The Wage and Hour Division recovered more than $166 million in back wages in fiscal year 2005 for more than 241,000 workers. For more information about the FLSA, call the East Los Angeles Wage and Hour office at (626) 966-0478 or the Department of Labor's toll-free help line at 1-866-4US WAGE (1-866-487-9243). Information is also available on the Internet at www.wagehour.dol.gov.

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U.S. Department of Labor releases are accessible on the Internet at www.dol.gov. The information in this news release will be made available in alternate format (large print, Braille, audio tape or disc) from the COAST office upon request. Please specify which news release when placing your request at (202) 693-7828 or TTY (202) 693-7755. The Labor Department is committed to providing America’s employers and employees with easy access to understandable information on how to comply with its laws and regulations. For more information, please visit www.dol.gov/compliance.