The Department of Labor (DOL) will increase its focus on reducing the number of violations of wage and hour laws, Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis announced yesterday.

The agency is supporting a proposal that would require employers to give employees more information about pay and hours in order to cut back on violations and ensure workers receive overtime pay. Targeted groups include the health care and construction industries.

“The idea is promoting more transparency so people can know how salaries are being calculated,” Solis said at a press conference. “Wage theft occurs, and it's to make accountable businesses not playing by the rules.”

According to Bloomberg, employers paid $6.5 million in back pay as a result of DOL lawsuits last year.

The Department of Labor (DOL) will increase its focus on reducing the number of violations of wage and hour laws, Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis announced yesterday.

The agency is supporting a proposal that would require employers to give employees more information about pay and hours in order to cut back on violations and ensure workers receive overtime pay. Targeted groups include the health care and construction industries.

“The idea is promoting more transparency so people can know how salaries are being calculated,” Solis said at a press conference. “Wage theft occurs, and it's to make accountable businesses not playing by the rules.”

According to Bloomberg, employers paid $6.5 million in back pay as a result of DOL lawsuits last year.