Posted: | November 18, 2019 10:35 AM |
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From: | Representative Martina A. White |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | Wage Payment and Collection Law Amendment |
I am preparing to introduce legislation to amend the Wage Payment and Collection Law (WPCL) to extend coverage of the law to public sector employees in the Commonwealth. As you may have learned from recent media reports, many employees of the City of Philadelphia have received incorrect wages – in some cases, no wages at all – due to deep flaws in the implementation of the city’s new payroll system. Every employee, public or private, deserves to be paid for their work at a predictable time and in the proper amount. There is no excuse for a widespread failure to properly pay these public servants. Under the WPCL, employees are entitled to regular paydays, liquidated damages for unpaid wages, and employees (or a union representing them) can file a complaint with the Department of Labor and Industry or bring a legal action for unpaid wages. Unfortunately, these protections do not extend to public sector employees. My legislation will simply amend the definition of “employer” in the WPCL to include public bodies (the Commonwealth, political subdivisions, etc.) – and this will extend the law’s coverage and remedies to public sector employees. I hope you will join me as a cosponsor. |