Governor Signs Rep. Matt Beck's Bill to Combat Wage Theft

On March 19, Governor Janet Mills signed Rep. Matt Beck’s (D-So. Portland, IBEW 1837) bill aimed at strengthening enforcement of labor laws. LD 1587, An Act to Clarify the Bureau of Labor Standards' Investigatory and Enforcement Procedures, gives the Bureau of Labor Standards the same investigatory tools already in place at other state agencies. Beck said the new law will help the Bureau more effectively investigate wage theft complaints.

“Wage theft is stealing from Maine workers. It is just as bad as reaching into their wallets and pocketing their cash,” said Beck. “When their wages are stolen, they can’t pay their rent or mortgage, put gas in their cars or feed their families. This bill will help protect workers against the scourge of wage theft and help ensure that Maine workers get paid promptly for the important work that they do.”

Beck noted that more than $1.8 million owed to Maine workers went unpaid during the past three years,” said Beck. “And those are just the unpaid wages we know about. Many more instances of wage theft likely went unreported.”