Settlement in L.A. 'Sweatshop' Suit
Garment contractor Seventeen Inc., formerly dba Q&I Inc., has settled a lawsuit brought against it by Los Angeles City Attorney Carmen Trutanich’s office for allegedly failing to pay employees overtime and maintaining sweatshop-like conditions in its factory at 2221 E. Washington Blvd. in Los Angeles.
The suit, filed in July 2009, accused Seventeen and its owners of forcing approximately 50 workers to work 12-hour shifts, sometimes two or three shifts back-to-back, without overtime pay or breaks, six days a week. Other complaints include allegations that the defendants falsified payroll and time records to hide the fact that employees were being underpaid.
The $225,000 settlement requires overtime compensation for “identifiable workers” and forces Seventeen to foot the bill for an independent monitor at the factory who will oversee the company’s compliance with all workplace laws for one year. The agreement by the defendants to pay for an independent monitor is the first of its kind for a domestic garment manufacturer, a release from Trutanich’s office states. Workers also accused Seventeen of creating hazardous and unhealthy workplace conditions, including unsanitary bathrooms lacking clean water or working plumbing, infestations of cockroaches and rodents, and exposure to chemicals and fine fabric dust. Exits from the building were allegedly blocked or locked at night, leaving night-shift workers with no way to exit the building at night or during an emergency.
Seventeen is reported to be a contractor for retailers such as Macy’s and Forever 21.—Erin Barajas
