This bill amends the Wage Payment and Collection Law of Pennsylvania, primarily updating definitions and enhancing the enforcement mechanisms for wage violations. The definition of "employer" is expanded to include various governmental entities and their agents, while a new term, "high-violation industry," is introduced to categorize industries with frequent violations. The Department of Labor and Industry is tasked with collecting and reporting data on wage violations, fines, and complaints, and is required to conduct quarterly investigations in high-violation industries.

Additionally, the bill significantly increases penalties for employers who fail to pay wages, replacing the previous ten percent penalty with a new structure that imposes a penalty of $2,000 per violation or triple the unpaid wages, whichever is greater. It establishes a Wage Enforcement Fund to collect fines and penalties, which will be used for enforcement activities. The bill also introduces stronger protections against employer retaliation for employees who report violations, with escalating penalties for repeated offenses. Overall, the legislation aims to strengthen wage enforcement and protect workers' rights in Pennsylvania.

Statutes/Laws affected:
Printer's No. 737 (Feb 24, 2025): P.L.637, No.329
Printer's No. 0737: P.L.637, No.329