Wage and Hour Division (WHD)

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SAN FRANCISCO -- Employees of six Los Angeles-area restaurants will receive $277,575 in back wages after a U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) investigation revealed that their employers failed to pay overtime wages as required by federal law.

Investigators with the Labor Department's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) found that employees of the restaurants were paid a straight hourly wage despite working as many as 60 hours per week. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) requires that employees earn one-and-one-half times their regular rate for hours worked over 40 per week.

"The Department of Labor is committed to ensuring all workers are paid the full wages they are entitled to receive," said Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. "This Administration has recovered more than $212 million in back wages in fiscal year 2003 - a 21 percent increase over FY 2002."

B and M Restaurants, Inc. agreed to pay $178,351 in back wages to 71 employees who worked at Chiara Restaurant in Pasadena; Farfalla Trattoria at 1978 Hillhurst Avenue in Los Angeles and Galleto Cafe in Westlake.

El Baron De Centro America will pay $56,881 in back wages to 38 employees of their restaurant located at 4212 West Pico Blvd. in Los Angeles.

Joselito's Mexican Food will pay $42,343 in back wages to 31 employees at Joselito's locations in Montrose and Tujunga.

Payroll records indicated that employees received regular wages for the first forty hours worked each week, and a second paycheck or cash for the overtime hours. The back wages will compensate workers for overtime pay earned during the two-year period ending in November 2003.

Average days to resolve a complaint decreased in FY 2003 from 129 days to 108 days. WHD assessed employers nearly $10 million in civil money penalties in FY 2003.

For more information about the FLSA, call the Los Angeles Wage and Hour office at (818) 240-5274 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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