Statement of Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis on report detailing violations of...

Statement of Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis on report detailing violations
of employment and labor laws in U.S. cities

WASHINGTON, Sept. 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A survey of 4,387 workers in
low-wage industries across the three largest U.S. cities - Chicago, Los
Angeles and New York - found that the core workplace protections many
Americans take for granted are failing significant numbers of workers. A
report issued today and jointly funded by the Ford, Joyce, Haynes and Russell
Sage Foundations examines the right to be paid at least the minimum wage, the
right to be paid for overtime hours, the right to take meal breaks, access to
workers' compensation when injured and the right to advocate for better
working conditions.

Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis issued the following statement on the
report:

"There is no excuse for the disregard of federal labor standards -- especially
those that are designed to protect the neediest among us. As secretary of
labor, I am committed to the vigorous enforcement of our laws and will make
use of the full weight of my authority to find and prosecute violators.

"I am especially troubled by the report's findings that 'employment and labor
laws are regularly and systematically violated.' Our workers deserve -- and
need -- far better than that. In fact, it's precisely why stronger enforcement
remains at the top of my agenda.

"Beginning this year and into 2010, I am hiring an additional 250 new wage and
hour investigators so we can continue to effectively monitor wage and hour
violations. During the first six months of this year, the Department of Labor
already has recovered more than $82 million in back wages for nearly 107,000
minimum wage workers.

"Today's report clearly shows we still have a major task before us. But
America's workers should rest assured that, under my tenure, the Department of
Labor will be marked by an emphasis on the protection of their rights. We
will not rest until the law is followed by every employer, and each worker is
treated and compensated fairly."

U.S. Department of Labor releases are accessible on the Internet at
http://www.dol.gov. The information in this news release will be made
available in alternate format (large print, Braille, audio tape or disc) from
the COAST office upon request. Please specify which news release when placing
your request at 202-693-7828 or TTY 202-693-7755. The Labor Department is
committed to providing America's employers and employees with easy access to
understandable information on how to comply with its laws and regulations.
For more information, please visit http://www.dol.gov/compliance.

SOURCE U.S. Department of Labor

Dolline Hatchett of the U.S. Department of Labor, +1-202-693-4651