Forever 21 Ordered to Supply Hour and Wage Documents to the DOL
The clothing company has been subpoenaed for questionable practices in sewing facilities.
A Los Angeles judge has ruled that clothing retailer Forever 21 must present documents to the DOL Wage and Hour Division. The company is being investigated for distribution of “hot goods,” products made in violation of minimum wage, overtime, or child labor standards.
"Garment workers historically have been subjected to exploitation and paid substandard wages," said Solicitor of Labor M. Patricia Smith, in a statement on the DOL website. "The order underscores that everyone in the supply chain has a responsibility to ensure that workers receive the federal minimum wage and earned overtime, and it demonstrates our commitment to enforcing those protections despite tactics designed to obscure the employment relationship."
The investigation, which began in August 2012, uncovered evidence of minimum wage and overtime violations in Los Angeles sewing factories.
The court’s approval of a previous subpoena that Forever 21 did not comply with now requires the company to turn over the requested documents within 10 days.