Wage and Hour Division (WHD)

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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- The U.S. Labor Department today announced that an investigation into the pay practices at El Rancherito restaurants in 17 Illinois communities has resulted in the recovery of $943,455 for 331 workers and the issuance of a judgment in Federal District Court which prohibits the owners of the restaurants from violating federal overtime pay and minimum wage provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) in the future.

"Our priority at the Department of Labor is to protect workers, especially vulnerable, low-wage workers," said Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. "As a result of the department's investigation, nearly $1 million in back wages are recovered for 331 workers. Most of the workers in this case are Hispanic, and don't speak English as their first language. The department is committed to aggressively enforcing the law on their behalf and ensuring they are paid the full wages they deserve."

Of the 19 restaurants included in the settlement, all but three operate under the name of El Rancherito. The three others are Los Potros, Quincy, Ill., La Fonda, Edwardsville, Ill., and El Vaquero, Mattoon, Ill. Communities where El Rancherito restaurants are located are: Charleston, Collinsville, Effingham, Galesburg, Highland, Jacksonville, Lincoln, Litchfield, Macomb, Mattoon, Mt. Vernon, Olney, Quincy, Robinson, Springfield, and Taylorville, Ill.

Restaurant executives Daniel Angel Onate and Augustine Angel of El Rancherito, Inc. agreed to the filing of the Judgment and to pay the back wages. Included are workers employed as cooks, dish washers, waiters, and busboys.

The FLSA requires that covered employees be paid the federal minimum wage of $5.15 and time and one-half their regular rate of pay for hours worked over forty in a single workweek. The law 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 1-866-4USWAGE (1-866-487-9243). Information is also available on the Internet at www.wagehour.dol.gov.

NOTE: Attached is a list of restaurants included in the Judgment, the amount of back wages owed at each location and the number of employees included at each location.

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