MIAMI, Fla. — The U.S. Department of Labor has recovered more than $71,000 in back wages and damages for 25 workers after finding that a Florida produce provider denied minimum wage and overtime pay.
Investigators from the department's Wage and Hour Division investigators found that Patel Shippers LLC, which provides fruits and vegetables from India and Asia to grocery stores in 10 states, denied 25 workers overtime wages by paying them straight-time rates for all hours worked, including for hours over 40 in a workweek.
The employer also failed to pay three workers at least the federal minimum wage by not keeping an accurate record of hours worked. Their actions violated the Fair Labor Standards Act.
“Employers have a legal obligation to pay workers for all the hours that they work. When they fail to do so they may owe back wages and liquidated damages,” said Wage and Hour Division Acting District Director Anthony Delgado in Miami. “We remain committed to ensuring essential protections for workers, and to providing clear and confidential compliance assistance to any worker or employer with questions.”
