AG Campbell asks for power to target $1 billion in wage theft
Photo | Courtesy of State House News Service
Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell
Vulnerable workers, including immigrants who don't know their rights or are fearful of employer retaliation, could gain stronger protections against pervasive wage theft under legislation that's supported by the state's top prosecutor but has failed to make it over the finish line on Beacon Hill for years.
Attorney General Andrea Campbell on Tuesday voiced her support for proposals that would strengthen her office's authority to crack down on wage theft and protect Massachusetts from lost economic growth, jobs and taxes. Some $1 billion in wages are stolen each year in the commonwealth and workers recoup less than 2 percent of their stolen pay, according to data from the Wage Theft Coalition led by the Massachusetts AFL-CIO.
Legislation sponsored by Rep. Daniel Donahue and Sen. Sal DiDomenico (H 1868 / S 1158) would allow Campbell to file a civil action seeking injunctive relief for damages, lost wages and other benefits for workers. Campbell would also have the authority to investigate wage theft complaints and seek civil remedies for violations, as well as issue stop work orders against contractors or businesses who are violating wage theft provisions.
"Access to a decent paying job and benefits is absolutely essential to ensuring economic security for individuals and their families," Campbell told the Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development during a hearing Tuesday afternoon. "We know passing a strong, and smart, and effective wage bill is crucial."
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