Labor officials urge action against two Central Mass. firms over $1.75M in unpaid wages
Federal labor officials have asked a federal court to hold two Central Massachusetts companies in contempt for not fulfilling the terms of a 2016 settlement to pay back more than $2.3 million in wages and damages to 478 employees.
The U.S. Department of Labor said Thursday it has asked the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts to hold two construction firms, construction firm Force Corp. of Leominster and AB Construction Group Inc. of Framingham, in contempt.
Those companies, along with employers Juliano Fernandes and Anderson dos Santos, were required to make quarterly payments to resolve labor violations due to them misclassifying the bulk of their employees as independent contractors to avoid paying overtime wages.
However, the defendants have paid only $477,900 and owe more than $1.75 million, plus interest.
If the defendants fail to do so, the department is requesting the men face sanctions, daily fines or jail time.
“After numerous attempts to resolve the employers’ continued failure to comply with the court order, the U.S. Department of Labor now asks the court to hold the defendants in contempt and impose all sanctions required, including imprisonment if necessary, to ensure compliance with the court’s original order,” said Regional Solicitor of Labor for New England Maia Fisher in Boston, in a statement.
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