One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
SoCal Factories Making Clothes For Forever 21 And Ross Found To Be Paying Way Below Minimum Wage
A Forever 21 stores in Connecticut. (Photo by Mike Mozart via the Creative Commons)
Southern California factories that produce clothing for popular chains like Forever 21 and Nordstrom were found to be paying their workers below minimum wage, the U.S. Department of Labor announced on Wednesday. From April to July of this year, the Labor Department investigated 77 randomly selected factories in the region and found enough violations to total $1.1 million in back wages for 865 workers, reports KPCC. The stores whose clothing was tied to the most violations were the budget fashion brands Ross, Forever 21 and T.J. Maxx. Ross topped the list with their clothing found at 11 factories.
Not all of the violators were making clothes for budget labels. Both Macy's and Nordstrom were found to have ties to factories that paid below minimum wage.
According to the L.A. Times, the workers made an average of $7 per hour, with some as low as $4 per hour. California's minimum wage is $10 per hour. Factories were also found to be not paying for overtime.
Despite these findings, the retailers themselves will not be penalized by the Feds. The stores do not directly employ the garment manufacturers, instead using them as suppliers. "This business model has shielded them from any legal responsibility," Ruben Rosalez, Regional Administrator for the Department of Labor, told the Times. Officials tell the Times they met with Ross and Forever 21 executives to discuss better monitoring practices.
This is not the first time L.A.-based Forever 21 has hit with accusations of wage violations. In 2001, 19 workers from six different factories sued Forever 21 over unfair labor practices. In 2012, five store employees sued over unpaid wages.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
