New Jersey Workers, Advocates Celebrate Signing of Landmark Anti-Wage Theft Law
New Jersey Workers, Advocates Celebrate Signing of Landmark Anti-Wage Theft Law
Acting Governor Sheila Oliver Signs A2903/S1790 into Law, Catapulting New Jersey to One of the Strongest Wage and Hour laws in the Country
(Elizabeth, NJ) August 6, 2019: Today, surrounded by low wage workers, Acting Governor Sheila Oliver signed landmark anti-wage theft bill (A-2903 / S-1790 into law. New Jersey’s wage and hour protections are now among the strongest in the country.
Livestream of the bill signing available here: https://www.facebook.com/maketheroadnj/
The law enhances enforcement of state wage and hour laws, ensuring that workers are paid according to the law. Under the law, employers that violate wage and hour laws by not paying minimum wage, overtime or failing to pay for hours worked could liable for treble damages and fines. The bill also extends the statute of limitations from two to six years for workers to file claims, strengthens joint employer liability where firms use subcontractors, and strengthens anti-retaliation provisions to protect employees who speak out against wage and hour violations.
“Today, New Jersey finally has one of the anti-wage theft protections in the country. No worker should fear that their employer will steal their hard earned wages by failing to pay overtime or hourly wages. For too long, unscrupulous employers were rewarded by New Jersey state law. That stops today. This is a victory for workers, for our economy and for fairness. On behalf of Make the Road New Jersey, I would like to express our gratitude to Governor Murphy, Lt. Gov Sheila Oliver, Assemblywoman Quijano and Senator Weinberg for their years of commitment to ensuring the anti-wage theft bill becomes law” saidRoberto Sanchez, a member of Make the Road New Jersey, a community-based immigrant and workers rights organization based in Elizabeth and Passaic.
Kevin Brown, Vice President and New Jersey District Director of 32BJ SEIU, said: “We are proud that after many years of fighting, this bill has finally become a reality. Wage theft protections will bring justice and dignity to the working people who collectively have lost billions every year. Our union works constantly to recover lost wages that frequently affect workers in the service industry. With stronger wage theft protections, employers are held accountable for breaking the law at the expense of New Jersey’s hardworking families. We would like to thank Senator Weinberg and Assemblywoman Quijano, as well as all of the organizations behind the bill, we’ve worked tirelessly to bring this bill to today’s signing.”
New Jersey has long lagged behind in wage and hour protections for workers. A report recently released by the National Employment Law Project placed New Jersey in the lowest “third tier” in terms of enforcement protections against wage theft. This law places New Jersey at the top of the list. https://www.nelp.org/news-releases/workers-who-report-employer-misconduct-face-rampant-retaliation/
Make the Road New Jersey builds the power of immigrant and working class communities in New Jersey to achieve dignity and justice through community organizing, legal and support services, transformative education and policy innovation.
