In a recent two-day
enforcement sweep of Bay Area garment manufacturers, the California Division of
Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE) issued 41 citations with $113,000 in fines.
Seven teams of investigators swarmed out to inspect 80 clothing manufacturers, silk
screen companies, and embroidery businesses in
Francisco
violations included not carrying workers’ compensation insurance, not providing
itemized wage statements, and not paying overtime and minimum wage. The DLSE
also found 20 companies in violation of Labor Code recordkeeping requirements.
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While the Bay Area sweep occurred, DLSE
officials also inspected 140
garment businesses. There, the DLSE issued 113 citations for a total of
$188,000 in fines for violations including not carrying workers’ comp
insurance, not providing itemized wage statements, and not paying overtime. In
both sweeps, the DLSE found a number of garment manufacturers hadn’t complied
with a
law requiring them to register with the state, pay a registration fee, and post
a bond. Violations of this law carry penalties of $100 per employee for first
violations and $200 for subsequent problems.