IMMIGRANT WORKERS ARE BEING PAID BELOW MINIMUM WAGE ACROSS LOS ANGELES IN CARWASHES
Carwashes, one of many types of employers that use immigrant workers to staff their business, were exposed in a recent article by the LA Times as practically continuing the use of slave labor wages and threatening deportation to workers who would testify against them. While the California minimum wage is set at $8.00 per hour, carwasheros (immigrant carwarshers) were found to be making tips only, and even then they were only getting maybe $10 to $30 a day even while working more than a typical eight hour shift.
What is worse, these workers didn’t know there was a choice. Many carwashes are engaging in this practice and so the thought was- well it is happening here and it is happening over there- so what can we do? Further, the owners would openly flout deportation as a threat against any who would report them. These owners are blatantly breaking the law. Labor law in California not only protects proper wages per hour, but also protects against falsified time records, and not receiving overtime pay. And according to whistle-blowing laws, you cannot be deported or fired for reporting your boss’s illegal activity.
Now that workers are coming forward, there are many more options. Workers no matter what their legal status have rights. First, keep accurate records of the hours you work, including whether or not you punched a time card or got a meal or rest break. Check that the records your employer is showing you are the same as your records. Also, you should be paid at least $8.00 an hour including your tips. If you suspect that you are being cheated of your wages or meal breaks, or that your boss is engaged in this illegal activity, call the Law Offices of Greenberg & Rudman LLP at 1-800-252-9776 for a free consultation in California regarding your legal rights and how one of our experienced employment lawyers may be able to help you.
Article is featured in The Los Angeles Times, Sunday, March 22, 2008.
