The city council of New Brunswick voted recently to enact the state’s first municipal ordinance aimed at preventing wage theft. The ordinance seeks to stop the practice by denying municipal business licenses to employers that have carried out wage theft. The ordinance was prompted by sustained community advocacy. A report prepared by the organizations Unity Square and New Labor outlined how wage theft cost New Brunswick residents hundreds of thousands of dollars each year.
CoFiA is also struggling to help workers who are victimized by dishonest, exploitative employers all over Bergen County and beyond. Congratulations to New Brunswick for taking this unique action to try to stem the tide of exploitation.