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ruet

(10,160 posts)
Wed Apr 5, 2023, 09:08 PM Apr 2023

Some Clothing Workers in Los Angeles Earn as Little as $1.58 an Hour, Labor Department Finds

Source: CBS News

Fashionistas who buy garments labeled "Made in USA" may be unwittingly contributing to workers' wage theft, according to a new report from the U.S. Department of Labor.

A random sweep of 50 garment manufacturers in Los Angeles found that 80% were breaking wage and hour laws, regulators said. The agency also found that 64% didn't keep accurate time and pay records, while more than half either paid workers off the books or falsified or didn't provide such information.

More than half the contractors paid workers off the books and either falsified time and pay records or didn't provide them, according to the agency.

The contractors made clothing for major national brands including Dillard's, Lulus, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Socialite, Stitch Fix and Von Maur, the Labor Department said.

About one-third of the apparel makers paid their workers according to how many items they produced, instead of an hourly rate — something California explicitly outlawed more than a year ago. Paying workers a "piece rate" often leads to sub-minimum wages. One contractor paid workers $1.58 per hour, the agency's investigation found.



Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/garment-factory-los-angeles-pay-minimum-wage/

18 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies

pecosbob

(8,170 posts)
1. Nothing will change until we learn to put rich politically-connected people in jail for their crimes
Wed Apr 5, 2023, 09:18 PM
Apr 2023

MichMan

(16,186 posts)
2. I don't understand why people would continue to work at those places
Wed Apr 5, 2023, 09:46 PM
Apr 2023

Unemployment is super low right now and employers are begging for help & paying above minimum wage. Why on earth would someone continue working for substandard wages ?

Judi Lynn

(163,984 posts)
4. I'm sure you're right. If they take fresh newcomers, they wouldn't know the exchange rate no doubt.
Wed Apr 5, 2023, 10:01 PM
Apr 2023

They could be completely unaware of how little they are really being paid.

Damn these monsters to hell.

They are very successful capitalists, by god.

If they pay their employee far less than he/she really should earn, they win. They are stealing their lives.

stopdiggin

(14,613 posts)
5. there are probably other reasons/factors
Wed Apr 5, 2023, 10:01 PM
Apr 2023

but a very big one would be 'off the books' paid in cash type of transactions. Read vulnerable and easily exploited populations. And 'no records' is a desirable option in some quarters.

hamsterjill

(16,684 posts)
7. Just makes me cry.
Wed Apr 5, 2023, 10:52 PM
Apr 2023

Assholes who take advantage of the disadvantaged.

How can someone do that to another human being and go home and sleep at night!!

moonshinegnomie

(3,721 posts)
8. rather than just making the companies pay back wages
Wed Apr 5, 2023, 11:24 PM
Apr 2023

make the company pay 100% of th eprofits for the last 5 years to the employees. also make the top exec pay the employees their entire salary for the last 5 years.

If the company cant pay then the company is seized and given to the employees. if the exec cant pay then seize 100% of their assets

LoisB

(11,949 posts)
9. I am willing to bet half the farm that the majority (if not all) of them got millions in PPP "loans"
Wed Apr 5, 2023, 11:35 PM
Apr 2023
 
10. Nothing Wrong with Piece Rates
Wed Apr 5, 2023, 11:58 PM
Apr 2023

I make gigantic piles more translating by piece rates than by translating by shitty hourly rates. (Call me when min wages exceeds $100/hr.)

Bayard

(27,619 posts)
13. I hope they do follow up investigations
Thu Apr 6, 2023, 10:40 AM
Apr 2023

To see how many of these workers have now been fired since the companies had a spotlight turned on them.

I bet these may be the only jobs a lot of these people can get.

Response to ruet (Original post)

IronLionZion

(50,231 posts)
15. I'm guilty of assuming "Made in USA" meant the workers would be paid at least minimum wage
Thu Apr 6, 2023, 10:58 AM
Apr 2023

Contracting is in major need of reforms. Companies shouldn't get away with transferring their abuses to contracting firms.

flying_wahini

(8,217 posts)
17. We will NEVER fix the legal slavery here in US unless we get a handle on LEGAL immigration.
Thu Apr 6, 2023, 06:49 PM
Apr 2023

People who live underground are at the mercy of these companies.

Which is exactly why the GOP doesn’t want to fix it.
MONEY is their god.

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