Governments Struggle to Enforce “living wage” Laws

SEATTLE (AP) — As more states and cities phase in new laws raising wages to at least $15 an hour, they are learning just how difficult it can be to make sure tens of thousands of businesses actually pay their workers what the laws require.

Most local and state officials take a passive approach to enforcement, waiting for workers to complain about being cheated rather than trying to audit company payrolls. The problem is that many workers fear they will be fired if they report on their bosses.

Labor activists say the new living wage laws are meaningless unless authorities become more proactive. Already, they say roughly one in four businesses nationwide cheat their workers by failing to pay minimum wages.