By Ricardo Roura
08 Oct 2024, 10:32 PM EDT
A tortilla maker based in Los Angeles County did not cover the payment of more than 70 workers for all hours worked and overtimedetermined the United States Department of Labor (DOL) after concluding an investigation.
According to a press report issued this Monday by the DOL, the wholesale tortilla manufacturer La Flor de México Inc.failed to pay 72 workers minimum wage or additional overtime rates for more than 40 hours in a workweek, violating the Fair Labor Standards Act.
La Flor de México Inc. was also found to have a joint employment relationship with the personnel agency Employee Force Provider.
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Tortilla manufacturers used the company to hire most of their workers and manage the daily operation of their business, located at 5121 Commerce Drive, in Baldwin Park.
They recover $132,000 of debt
Of the more than $132,000 recovered, about $66,253 dollars consists of back wages of the 72 employeeswhile the other half is for liquidated damages for workers, officials said.
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“The United States Department of Labor will always be vigilant to Ensure all employers comply with the Fair Labor Standards Act. Workers must be paid correctly and on time,” said DOL Wage and Hour Division Deputy Director Skarleth Kozlo.
In its press release, the DOL said they were alerted to the violations committed by La Flor de México Inc. by a report by Univision reporter Cecilia Bográn.
La Flor de México Inc. manufactures and supplies wheat, corn, oat and multi-grain tortillas.
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Employees who wish verify if they are owed back wages collected by the Wage and Hour Division You can use the search tool for salaries owed to workers by consulting this link.
Workers and employers can call the toll-free number of the Wage and Hour Division for assistance, at 1-866-487-9243.
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