L.A. Garment Factories Fined in Raids
State officials recently visited 21 apparel factories they said were operating illegally in Los Angeles County, issuing 35 citations totaling more than $163,000.
Three investigating teams from the state Economic and Employment Enforcement Coalition visited 21 garment makers March 20–21, finding that all of them had safety hazards. Eighteen of the 21 were cited for violating California’s labor laws.
Safety hazards at some factories were extremely serious. At one, investigators said, they talked to a worker whose finger was amputated during an accident with a pleating machine. Three pleating machines were red-tagged for not having the proper guarding.
Other safety hazards found included exposed moving parts on the belt/pulley and chain drive, locked or blocked exit doors, and electrical panel boxes with live wires exposed.
Labor violations included failing to keep records and post labor notices as mandated by law, not carrying workers’ compensation insurance, failing to keep accurate records for three years as required for garment manufacturers and failing to register as a garment manufacturer.
Contractors and factories the state said it cited were: Clover Fashions Inc., HL Fashions Inc., Jim Fashion Inc., Azo Sewing Inc., Trejo’s Contractor Service, Fine Touch Trim & Printing, Gilbert Uribe/Ortiz Cutting, Metro Pads & Fusing Inc., Big Bang Apparel Inc., World Pleating Inc., Andy’s Cutting Service Inc., Key Mode Inc., V.C.I. Inc., Yavonna’s Fashions, Ha Nui Enterprises Inc., Budy Budy Inc., Super Cutting Service, James Petronilio Salinas and Steven Sumpter.
Factories were selected for visits based on past violations or complaints by employees or competitors or because they were in the same geographic areas as other cited factories.
“Our effort is to root out California’s underground economy by targeting businesses that avoid labor, tax and licensing laws; safety and health regulations; and carry no workers’ compensation insurance,” said David Dorame, director of the EEEC. “By targeting enforcement against illegal operators, we help level the playing field for law-abiding businesses and their employees.”
—Deborah Belgum
