Kicking Off Labor Rights Week, Comptroller Stringer Announces $7.5 Million in Stolen Prevailing Wages Returned to Workers During COVID-19 Pandemic

(New York, NY) — Today, New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer kicked off Labor Rights Week by announcing that nearly $7.5 million in stolen prevailing wages has been returned to more than 400 workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Comptroller Stringer also launched a series of “Know Your Rights” virtual events in collaboration with labor rights groups, community organizations and the Consulate of Mexico.

The Comptroller’s Bureau of Labor Law enforces prevailing wage and benefit rates for construction and building service workers employed by contractors on City public work projects. When companies on these public contracts fail to pay the proper wages and benefits, the Comptroller enforces the law to recover the money owed to workers and ensures that they receive the money through outreach. Amid the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Comptroller’s office launched a phone banking campaign in April to return unclaimed wages to workers cheated out of pay. Since March 2020, the Comptroller’s Office has returned nearly $7.5 million to more than 400 workers.

“During the economic hardship of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s more important than ever that workers get the wages they are rightfully owed,” said Comptroller Stringer. “I am proud that my office, in partnership with labor and community-based organizations, has connected more than 400 workers with $7.5 million in stolen wages. I always say that every week should be Labor Rights Week, because workers are most empowered when they know their rights and can advocate for what they deserve.”

The Mexican Consulate in New York hosts Labor Rights Week every year just before Labor Day. This year’s Labor Rights Week will be a virtual event and will take place from August 30 through September 5, 2021. An MOU is signed every two years in commitment to the partnership between the Comptroller’s office and the Mexican Consulate to promote labor rights and advocate for workers. The Mexican Consulate has similar MOUs with New York State and the United States Departments of Labor. For the Comptroller’s office, the object of the MOU is to ensure workers are aware of their rights to prevailing wages on City-funded public work sites.

The Comptroller’s Bureau of Labor Law will participate at “Know Your Rights”  virtual events and workshops across the City throughout Labor Rights week. For more information, please click here.

Murad Awawdeh, Executive Director of the New York Immigration Coalition, said:  “With immigrants representing more than half of our front line workers and thousands still fighting for relief, it is vital that workers receive every cent owed them. Even during the best of times, rampant wage theft remains a reality for all too many hard-working New Yorkers. We applaud the Comptroller’s efforts through the covid-19 pandemic recouping 7.5 million in stolen prevailing wages for more than 400 hundred workers regardless of their immigration status and ensuring all workers get the compensation they deserve for their labor.”

Kyle Bragg, President of 32BJ SEIU, said: “An honest day’s work deserves an honest day’s pay. That’s why this work by Comptroller Stringer and his Bureau of Labor Law is so important. Contractors who cheat workers and cut corners can never be tolerated – and especially not during a global pandemic. These returned wages will help send a powerful message to all that, in New York City, we honor workers’ rights – each and every day.”

Angeles Solis, Lead Organizer of Make the Road New York, said: “Thousands of immigrant New Yorkers leveled by the devastation of COVID-19 are still hurting on the path to economic recovery. Comptroller Stringer’s initiative put money in the hands of workers that have been cheated out of pay regardless of their immigration status. Wage theft is a persistent and pervasive problem in New York, with employers consistently cheating workers out of money they rightfully earned. We commend the Comptroller for fighting to recoup wages for workers and sending a clear message to employers that this type of behavior will not be tolerated.”

Maf Misbah Uddin, Founder and President of the Alliance of South Asian American Labor, said: “The Alliance of South Asian American Labor (ASAAL) is proud to continue it’s partnership with the City Comptroller’s Office, all labor-based groups, and our concerned citizens to fight for economic justice for workers. Wage theft is a serious crime and we all must do everything in our power to protect the workers in getting their fair share of pay that they earned regardless of their immigration status. We commend Comptroller Stringer’s Bureau of Labor Law for overcoming all challenges through the pandemic and bringing justice to 400 workers during this public health crisis.”

Jonathan Westin, Executive Director of New York Communities for Change, said: “Employers across the City continue to cheat workers out of their hard-earned wages. We applaud Comptroller Stringer for standing up and helping workers who are owed thousands of dollars in compensation. We will continue to work hand in hand with the Comptroller to combat wage theft across the city.”

Jo-Ann Yoo, Executive Director of the Asian American Federation, said: “Workers, who have always been vulnerable, are hurting more than ever, and the economic and social fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic continues to affect their livelihoods.  It is even more critical in this economic climate that contractors who take public dollars do right by their workers and pay their workers fairly. We thank Comptroller Stringer for championing workers, especially during these difficult economic times. We commend his bureau of labor law for their tireless efforts through the pandemic that led to returning $7.5 million in prevailing wages to more than 400 workers. We are happy that workers have an opportunity to claim their stolen wages and we will work with our pan-Asian member agencies to spread the word to the Asian community.”

Since 2014, Comptroller Stringer’s office has assessed more than $35 million in prevailing wage violations and paid over $22 million to employees who were cheated out of their wages. It has also debarred over 60 contractors who took advantage of workers – setting an office record.

###