Commissioner Diaz’s wage theft ordinance set for final vote

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY – Miami-Dade County Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz’s ordinance to strengthen penalties on employers engaging in wage theft will face a final commission vote on Oct. 3

The ordinance would increase the fine for repeat offenders by up to 60 percent for multiple offenses and bar companies that engage in wage theft from doing business with the County.

Complaints involving between $60 and $15,000 in unpaid wages would be brought before a County Hearing Examiner and final orders would be enforceable as judgements in court.

“This is about making sure people don’t get victimized by unscrupulous employers who try to get away with not paying workers for the work they do,” said Commissioner Diaz, who also sponsored another ordinance on March 7 amending the County’s wage theft ordinance to allow victims to recover attorney fees when going after deadbeat employers.