This bill amends the Wage Payment and Collection Law of Pennsylvania, enhancing definitions and enforcement mechanisms related to wage violations. It revises the definition of "employer" to include various governmental entities and introduces the term "high-violation industry," defined as any industry with at least 25 violations over two years. The bill mandates the Department of Labor and Industry to collect and report data on wage violations quarterly, including the number of complaints and fines collected. It also establishes a Wage Enforcement Fund, which will be financed by penalties collected under the act and used for enforcement activities.

Additionally, the bill significantly increases penalties for employers who fail to pay wages, replacing the previous penalty structure with a system that imposes a fine of $2,000 per violation or triple the unpaid wages, whichever is greater. It also introduces provisions to protect employees from retaliation for reporting wage violations and outlines the responsibilities of the department in investigating high-violation industries. The act aims to strengthen the enforcement of wage laws and ensure that employees receive fair compensation for their work.

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