Wage and Hour Division (WHD)

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CHICAGO -- The U.S. Department of Labor announced today the filing of seven lawsuits against the owners of 11 Chinese buffet style restaurants in the Chicago area, seeking to recover $1.5 in back wages and liquidated damages for violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

"Our priority at the Department of Labor is to protect low-wage workers. We will not hesitate to aggressively enforce the law and pursue litigation especially in cases involving serious violations which deny required wages to vulnerable workers," said Tammy D. McCutchen, administrator of the Wage and Hour Division, Washington, D.C.

The complaints filed in U.S. District Courts in Chicago and Hammond, Ind., allege that the defendants failed to pay minimum wage and overtime and failed to maintain accurate records of their employees and of their wages and hours worked.

Investigations by the department's Wage and Hour Division found that over 100 workers, mostly Asian and Hispanic, employed as busboys and kitchen help worked as many as 66 hours in a week and were not paid overtime compensation. In some instances, employees were paid less than the federal minimum wage of $5.15 per hour.

The department has been working with the state of Illinois on similar cases and expects the state to take action against another four restaurants for similar violations.

The FLSA is enforced by the Wage and Hour Division, part of the Employment Standards Administration of the Labor Department. It requires that covered employees be paid the federal minimum wage of $5.15 per hour for all hours worked and time and one-half their regular rate of pay for hours worked over 40 per week. The FLSA also requires employers to maintain accurate time and payroll records.

For more information about the FLSA, call the Department of Labor's toll-free help line at 866-4USWAGE (1-866-487-9243). Information is also available on the Internet at www.dol.gov.

New China Buffet, Inc. of Melrose Park
8339 W. North Ave., Melrose Park, Ill.
China Buffet of Broadview, Inc.
3300 Village Square, Broadview, Ill.

New China Buffet of Chicago, Inc.
3246 W. Addison, Chicago, Ill.
Lin's China Buffet of Olympia Fields, Inc.
2474 Lincoln Highway, Olympia Fields, Ill.

Hong Chang Company, Inc.
dba New China Buffet
2891 U.S. 30, Merrillville, Ind.

New China Buffet of Calumet City, Inc.
1500 S. Torrence Ave., Calumet City, Ill.

Brickyard Super China Buffet, Inc.
6425 W. Diversey Av., Chicago, Ill.
Norridge Super China Buffet, Inc.
4125 N. Harlem, Norridge, Ill.

China Buffet of Broadview, Inc.
3300 Village Square, Broadview, Ill.
World Buffet, Inc.
122 S. Western Ave., Carpentersville, Ill.

Great China Buffet Corp. in Niles
dba Great China Buffet
5618 W. Touhy Ave., Niles, Ill.

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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.