Wage and Hour Division (WHD)

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SAN FRANCISCO -- A Los Angeles-based clothing retailer has agreed to pay $122,425 in back wages plus $35,420 in civil money penalties, following an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor

Investigators from the department’s Wage and Hour Division found that Ken Mart, owned by Karmil “Ken” Singh, owes back wages to 161 low-wage workers. Singh, who owns Ken Mart stores in Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties, fabricated records to avoid paying the required federal overtime. The company also violated recordkeeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

The employees were primarily sales clerks, cashiers and stockers working in 12 stores in Los Angeles, Pomona, Colton, El Monte, Palmdale, Lancaster, Huntington Park, Hesperia and Ontario. The workers began receiving back wage payments in May for work performed between April 2003 and April 2005. Back wage payments are scheduled to be completed in September. Civil money penalties will be paid in December.

The FLSA requires employers to pay covered employees at least the federal minimum wage of $5.15 per hour for all hours worked and not less than one-and-one half times their regular rate of pay for hours worked over 40 in a workweek.

“The Department of Labor is committed to the strong enforcement of labor laws to ensure that vulnerable workers receive the wages they earn,” said George Friday Jr., regional administrator for the Wage and Hour Division’s Western region. “Wage and Hour recovered more than $166 million in back wages in fiscal year 2005 for more than 241,000 workers.”

The Labor Department, together with several other federal and state agencies, and others organizations are partners in an initiative that assists Spanish-speaking workers and employers with work-related concerns. Known as Employment Education and Outreach (EMPLEO), this alliance has established a local toll-free help line, 1-877-55-AYUDA (877-552-9832). Callers to the help line are assisted by volunteers who refer them to the appropriate EMPLEO partner for assistance.

For more information about the FLSA, call the Los Angeles Wage and Hour office at (213) 894-6375, the West Covina Wage 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.