ALBANY — Close to 100 home care workers protested outside the state Supreme Court on Tuesday before oral arguments were delivered in a lawsuit that alleges the state Labor Department improperly closed investigations into their complaints of wage theft.
Home care workers in the state make an average hourly wage just over $16, but immigrants who work in the industry face even greater challenges beyond low wages.
Immigrant home care workers from New York City said a culture of wage theft must end, as where employees are often required to work consecutive 24-hour shifts and receive pay for only 13 hours with little-to-no overtime. Petitioners behind a class action lawsuit against the Labor Department say they want the money that's owed to them.
"This is a basic level of Department of Labor duty," said Jun Chang, an organizer with the Ain't I A Woman campaign.
The campaign is one of several organizations, including the Chinese Staff & Workers Association, Disability Education & Advocacy Network of Western New York, the National Organization for Women New York State and others requesting the state Attorney General's office investigate the matter.
"Wage theft is a heartless crime that denies too many peopl the fair pay that they rightfully earned," a spokesperson with state Attorney General Letitia James' Office said in a statement. "Every worker deserves to be paid and treated fairly."
Because most immigrant home care workers don't speak English, it makes them more...
Secretary-General says Tehran’s claims are provocative and threaten regional stability Abu Dhabi: Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jassim Mohammed Al Budaiwi has strongly condemned ...