Joint – Senate Standing Committee on Labor
Chair: Senator Jessica Ramos
and Senate Standing Committee on Judiciary
Chair: Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal
Public Hearing: To collect public feedback on S1977 and understand the scale of
the issue of wage theft in New York State
Place: Senate Hearing Room, 250 Broadway, 19th Floor, New York, NY 10007
Time: 10:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M.
Contact: Astrid Aune (530) 400-0509; Sam Acevado (518) 455-2529
Media Contact: Astrid Aune (530) 400-0509
ORAL TESTIMONY BY INVITATION ONLY

SUBJECT:      Scale and solution of New York’s post-pandemic wage theft problem

PURPOSE:     The actual scale of scope wage theft as a problem in New York state is difficult to ascertain with specificity. The Standing Committees on Labor and the Judiciary are calling a hearing to bring workers, employers, and state actors together to collect  testimony on problems with recovering wages, enforcing existing wage theft laws,  and where gaps in state resources exist. 

According to a 2021 study by the Economic Policy Institute, wage theft costs workers $50 billion  nationwide a year. Those stolen wages remove money from local economies and force law abiding employers to subsidize bad actors who are shirking their tax responsibilities and  responsibilities to their employers.

Persons wishing to present pertinent testimony to the Committees at the above hearing should  complete and return the enclosed reply form as soon as possible. It is important that the reply form  be fully completed and returned so that persons may be notified in the event of emergency  postponement or cancellation.

Oral testimony will be limited to 10 minutes duration. Ten copies of any prepared testimony should  be submitted at the hearing registration desk. The Committees would appreciate advance receipt  of prepared statements.

Attendees and participants at any legislative public hearing should be aware that these proceedings  are video recorded. Their likenesses may be included in any video coverage shown on television  or the internet.

In order to meet the needs of those who may have a disability, the Committees, in accordance with  its policy of non-discrimination on the basis of disability, as well as the 1990 Americans with  Disabilities Act (ADA), have made their facilities and services available to all individuals with  disabilities. For individuals with disabilities, accommodations will be provided, upon reasonable  request, to afford such individuals access and admission to State Legislature facilities and  activities.