S.Amdt. 4636

This amendment, submitted by Mrs. Murray, proposes to add a title called the Wage Theft Prevention and Wage Recovery Act to bill S. 1383. The purpose of this addition is to stop wage theft and make it easier for workers to get back wages that were stolen from them.

The amendment aims to change and add the following to the law:

• Stronger Penalties and Recovery: It increases penalties for wage theft and provides workers with better tools to recover stolen wages in court. It also ensures workers have the right to full compensation based on their employment agreements.

• Employer Requirements: It adds rules requiring employers to provide:

  • Initial and modification disclosures regarding pay rates and classifications.
  • Detailed paystubs.
  • Final payments within 14 days of employment termination.

• Enforcement and Rights: It establishes civil and criminal penalties for violations, increases the statute of limitations for bringing legal actions, and prevents employees from waiving their right to go to court through arbitration agreements.

• Support Systems: It creates a Wage Theft Prevention and Wage Recovery Grant Program. This program provides grants to eligible entities, such as nonprofits and academic institutions, to help educate workers, assist in filing claims, and improve the enforcement of wage and hour laws.

• Accountability: It requires employers to provide employee records upon request and creates a "rebuttable presumption" that an employee's testimony is accurate if the employer fails to keep complete records.