US Labor Department investigation results in 5 Houston-based restaurants to collectively pay more than $330,000 in minimum back wages and overtime

HOUSTON -- Five Houston-based restaurants have individually agreed to collectively pay $334,146 to 154 current and former wait staff, bussers, kitchen and management employees after investigations by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division found minimum wage and overtime violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

“It is a top priority of this department to ensure that all workers receive the wages they have earned,” said Cynthia Watson, regional administrator for the Wage and Hour Division in the Southwest. “In these cases, employees were found to be earning hourly rates that fell below the federal minimum wage. This is illegal.”

The investigations by the department’s Wage and Hour Division in Houston determined that employers were being paid straight time for all hours worked, including those worked over 40 in a workweek. Employers also paid non-exempt employees on a salary basis without the additional half-time premium for hours worked over 40 in a workweek. Additionally, the companies did not maintain the required recordkeeping.

The Wage and Hour Division has secured $36,087 for 15 employees of Pearl Castle, doing business as Café 101; $70,280 to nine employees of NHL Investment Inc., doing business as Bodard Bistro; $106,398 to 108 employees of Mypa’s Holding Corp., doing business as Tan Tan Restaurant; $28,127 to nine employees of Chang Kun Corp., doing business as Arirang Korean Restaurant; and $93,254 to 13 employees of Trans Family Inc., doing business as Tay Do. Each of these restaurants was found to have violated the minimum wage and overtime provisions of the FLSA.

All five restaurants cooperated with the investigations and have agreed to future FLSA compliance. Back wages have been paid in full.

The FLSA requires that covered employees be paid at least the federal minimum wage of $7.25 for all hours worked, plus time and one-half their regular rates of pay, including commissions, bonuses and incentive pay, for hours worked beyond 40 per week. Employers must also maintain accurate time and payroll records. ;

For more information about the FLSA and other federal wage laws, call the Wage and Hour Division’s toll-free helpline at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243) or the Wage and Hour Division’s District Office in Houston at 713-339-5500. Information is also available on the Internet at www.wagehour.dol.gov.

公告網站：http://www.dol.gov/whd/media/press/whdpressVB3.asp?pressdoc=Southwest/20091204.xml