Wage Theft Prevention and Wage Recovery Act

This bill would change federal wage law to require employers to give workers written pay disclosures when hired, detailed paystubs each pay period, and final pay within 14 days after a job ends. It would require employers to pay the wage rate set in a worker's contract, raise the damages workers can recover for unpaid wages to twice the unpaid amount plus interest, and set new civil fines and higher criminal fines for wage violations. It would bar employers from making workers give up the right to sue as a condition of employment or in arbitration agreements. It would extend the time limit to file wage claims from 2 years to 4 years (5 years for willful violations) and pause that limit during Labor Department investigations. It would also create a Labor Department grant program for groups that educate workers and employers and help enforce wage laws.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Patty Murray Democrat sponsor
• 26 cosponsors