Oroho Bill to Create Office of Labor Law Enforcement Advances

Cracking Down on Illegal Labor Practices will Protect Workers and Taxpayers

Senator Steven Oroho and Senator Troy Singleton’s legislation to protect workers, law-abiding businesses, and taxpayers from the far-reaching effects of unethical labor practices has advanced in the Senate Labor Committee.

“Businesses who play by the book struggle to compete with shady employers who skirt the rules,” said Oroho (R-Sussex, Warren, Morris). “When bad actors implement fraudulent labor practices, their employees, New Jersey taxpayers, and the overall economy suffers. Establishing this office will level the playing field, ensuring equitable treatment for all workers.”

Oroho’s bipartisan legislation, S-3954, would establish the Office of Labor Law Enforcement to oversee, evaluate, and coordinate enforcement activities of the department regarding violations of the provisions of labor laws. The new office would be created within the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

Additionally, the bill directs the Attorney General to assign one or more deputy attorneys general to represent the DOLWD in proceedings regarding State labor law violations.

“The establishment of the Office of Labor Law Enforcement will provide a streamlined, coordinated effort in the enforcement of New Jersey’s labor laws,” said Senator Singleton (D-Burlington). “This will ultimately help to ensure that our workers are protected, and offenders are held accountable.”

The Office of Labor Law Enforcement would enforce provisions regarding wages and other terms and conditions of employment, and provisions regarding the financing and provision of benefits or insurance for workers, the keeping and disclosure of records, and provisions prohibiting false or misleading statements, representations, submissions, or the misclassification of employees, made by employers, employees, or other persons to wrongfully obtain or wrongfully deny or delay the full payment of wages and benefits, or pay less than the premiums, contributions, or taxes which are required by the provisions of State labor laws.

“Companies that underpay employees, evade taxes, and skirt health insurance and social security costs a doing a disservice to themselves,” added Oroho. “They will be caught and penalized to the fullest extent of the law. Strengthening oversight will crack down on abusive labor practices and improve the quality of life for many hardworking New Jerseyans.”

The bipartisan Assembly version of the legislation, A-5566, is sponsored by Assemblymen Parker Space and Hal Wirths (both R-Sussex, Warren, Morris).