Photo by Danielle Scruggs

A bill that aims to increase the penalties and fines for wage theft—when a company illegally withholds an employee’s wages, or denies benefits—unanimously passed the first vote and reading by the D.C. Council today.

The “Wage Theft Prevention Act of 2014,” which was authored by Councilmember Vincent Orange (D-At Large) and introduced in February along with Councilmembers Mary Cheh (D-Ward 3) and Jim Graham (D-Ward 1) “establishes penalties to employers who fail to pay earned wages, and establishes protection for workers, including prohibiting retribution to employees who file a complaint,” a release states.

At today’s legislative meeting, Cheh questioned one measure of the bill, which gives the Department of Employment Services 60 days to complete an investigation as to if an employer is illegally withholding wages and/or benefits from employees. She asked Orange if he’d consider an amendment dropping the number of days from 60 to 45. Orange said he would, but emphasized the importance of pushing the bill through the first vote before an amendment is added. “The bottom line, is we want employees of D.C. to know exactly what they’re going to get paid,” he said

The bill was co-sponsored by Councilmembers Muriel Bowser (D-Ward 4), Jack Evans (D-Ward 2), Anita Bonds (D-At Large), Kenyan McDuffie (D-Ward 5), Yvette Alexander (D-Ward 7), and Council Chairman Phil Mendelson. As Mendelson pointed out before the vote, $590,000 from the FY2015 budget was allocated to implement the bill.

“The ‘Wage Theft Prevention Act’ represents the District government standing behind its workers to ensure they are justly paid, and ensuring that they are offered protection from unprincipled employers,” Orange said in a statement.