Senate passes bills on unpaid wages

PROVIDENCE – The state Senate passed legislation March 31 designed to curtail the theft of wages from employees by unscrupulous employers. The measures offer employees improved methods for collecting unpaid wages, The Valley Breeze reported.

One bill sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Dominick Ruggerio, D-Providence, would establish a procedure for employees to secure liens against employers for unpaid wages, and contested claims would be decided by the Superior Court.

Another sponsored by Sen. Donna Nesselbush, D-Pawtucket, increases the penalties for nonpayment of wages and improves access to the justice system for employees to file claims against employers for unpaid wages.

“Immigrants and those with little education and who earn low wages to begin with are disproportionately the victims of wage theft,” Nesselbush said.

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The two measures now head to the House. •

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