Over the last three years, the U.S. Department of Labor has collected $166 million that remains unclaimed by almost 200,000 workers. About 15,000 of them are in California. These wage-theft victims have up to three years to claim the money before it's turned over to the U.S. Treasury. But many don't know compensation is waiting for them.
The labor department targets low-wage industries that rely heavily on transient or immigrant workers, including restaurants, agriculture and construction. But by the time those cases are resolved, many workers have moved on, to other jobs, or perhaps they've changed their address or phone number.
Undocumented immigrants are often afraid of interacting with a federal agency, because they worry that could lead to deportation. This fear contributes to the unclaimed wages, as many eligible workers do not pursue their claims.
California laws require that reinstated wages be claimed within a specified duration, which can pose a significant barrier to those who might not be aware of their rights or the processes involved in claiming them.
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