CHICAGO (WMBD) — Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced Tuesday that his office has expanded on a settlement made with Rivian subcontractors, requiring them to pay over $300,000 in back wages and penalties.
The consent decree filed requires China-based Guangzhou MINO Equipment Co. (MINO) and Florida-based BIW Automotive Solution Inc. (BIW), to pay owed overtime wages and civil penalties totaling $315,000 to 59 workers who were denied overtime wages they earned.
Two additional defendants, Mexico-based SDS Industrialservicio S.A. de C.V. (SDS) and its president, have refused to cooperate with the Attorney General’s investigation or engage in settlement discussions. The Attorney General’s office also filed a lawsuit today to ensure that they also pay penalties owed under Illinois law.
“Any company doing business in our state must follow Illinois’ laws that require workers to be fairly paid for the time they work,” Raoul said. “These settlements should send a message that employers cannot hide behind subcontractors to avoid responsibility for stolen wages, and I appreciate the Illinois Department of Labor’s collaboration. I am committed to holding businesses – large and small – accountable for violating laws that safeguard workers and support law-abiding businesses in Illinois.”
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