Capitol Hill food service workers get US$1m in back pay

WASHINGTON: Nearly 700 workers who prepare and serve meals to US lawmakers in Washington are due to receive more than US$1 million in back pay, the US Labour Department announced Tuesday.
Contractors hired to staff food service operations at the US Capitol failed to pay prevailing wages, overtime or health and welfare benefits, according to a Labour Department investigation.
Workers were also required to begin prior to their scheduled start times, the department announced.
The company Restaurant Associates, and Personnel Plus, a subcontractor, will pay US$1,008,302 in back wages to 674 employees.
In the opulent seat of the US legislature, the hourly workers served meals to US senators and members of the House of Representatives.
Under federal law, government contractors are required to pay prevailing wages.
"Workers in the restaurant industry are among the lowest-paid workers in our economy," David Weil, administrator of the Labour Department's Wage and Hour Division, said in a statement.
"Most struggle to afford life's basic expenses and pay their bills," he added.
"They shouldn't have to deal with paychecks that don't accurately reflect their hard work and the wages to which they are legally entitled."
The median net wealth of a US lawmaker was about US$1 million in 2013, according to the transparency organisation OpenSecrets.org.
Restaurant Associates did not immediately respond to a request for comment. — AFP