Minnesota Cities Need to Stare Down Wage Theft

(Adobe Stock via Minnesota News Connection)

(By Mike Moen. Minnesota News Connection) – Government agencies in Minnesota face renewed calls to ramp up wage theft monitoring as a new report says in the state’s largest city, projects like housing developments are being constructed on the backs of exploited workers and experts said there are tools to ensure compliance.

The think tank North Star Policy Action compiled findings showing despite efforts to clamp down on wage theft, it is a common problem in this region. The authors credited the state and Minneapolis officials for enhancing protections but said efforts are too reactive.

Sotero Garcia, a Minnesota construction worker, shared his experience through an interpreter with wage theft, in light of the latest research.

“He said at first, he was paid a little bit on the project and then the boss stopped paying him and would give a million excuses – that, like, he wasn’t receiving the checks he was supposed to receive, so he couldn’t pay the workers. And that went on for a while.”