Workers suffer from minimum wage payment violations in large California cities

California Big City Workers have suffered from violations in the payment of the minimum wagerepresenting a loss of billions of dollars.

According to a study from Rutgers University, Golden State employees lose up to $4,000 a year in major metropolitan areas, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and San Jose.

“This is the time to strengthen, do not weaken, the application of labor law“said Professor Janice Fine, director of the Workplace Justice Laboratory at Rutgers University.

The research was carried out by the School of Management and Labor Relations (SMLR), a research center dedicated to analyze the application of labor standards in the United States.

“California is leading the way nationally in terms of strong state and local minimum wage laws, but Our study shows that too many low-paid workers are not receiving the wages they are entitled to“said the director.

Keep reading: Fast food prices increase 8% in California since the minimum wage increase

This November, a vote could take the form of a ballot initiative in California to repeal the Private Attorney General Act (PAGA)revoking the ability to file class action lawsuits for certain violations.

The California law, which was enacted in 2004, empowers employees to file lawsuits for labor code violations on behalf of themselves, other workers and the state.

The center took federal data collected from 2014 to 2023 and found that Last year there was a 56% increase in violationswhich affected almost 1.5 million workers.

Keep reading: Fast food prices increase after minimum wage increase in California

The study also found that workers, mostly Latinos and African Americansand young people between 16 and 24 years old were more likely to experience minimum wage theft.

The most notable violation involved groups like child care workers, nannies, and home health care professionals.

Only on April 1, 2024, California presented the increase in the minimum wage for fast food workersfrom $16 an hour to $20 an hour, as the state continues to have one of the highest minimum wages in the United States.

Keep reading: What types of restaurants are exempt from the fast food minimum wage law in California?

Business and labor groups would have to reach an agreement before the deadline of the end of June to remove the measure.

If no agreement is reached, the issue will be presented to California voters in November 2024.

Keep reading:
· In effect, minimum wage of $20 an hour for fast food workers in California
· California fast food businesses cut staff due to new $20 minimum wage
· McDonald’s franchisee faces challenge over $20 per hour minimum wage in California