H.R. 9458: Wage Theft Prevention and Wage Recovery Act (119th Congress) Bill Summary

The bill would make it easier for workers to understand, track, and recover wages they are owed, and it would increase penalties for employers that fail to pay correctly.

Wage and Pay Disclosure Rules

The bill would require employers to provide clearer information about pay, including pay disclosures and regular pay stubs. It would also require final paychecks to be issued promptly when a worker leaves a job.

Stronger Wage-Theft Enforcement

The bill would expand protections against wage theft by increasing civil damages, fines, and criminal penalties for violations. It would also extend the time workers have to file claims, giving them a longer window to seek unpaid wages or other remedies.

Limits on Arbitration Waivers

The bill would place limits on certain arbitration waivers related to wage and hour disputes, which could affect how workers and employers resolve claims over unpaid wages and pay violations.

Grant Program for Enforcement and Worker Support

The bill would create a grant program within the Department of Labor to support wage-and-hour enforcement partnerships and worker assistance efforts. These grants would be awarded competitively and could last up to three years. Applications would need to include detailed plans, and priority would go to areas with higher risk of wage violations and to programs with a record of effective enforcement.

Grant recipients would have to enter into annual agreements with the Department of Labor and undergo performance reviews. If a recipient does not comply with the program requirements, funding could be revoked. The bill would authorize this funding through fiscal year 2030.

Oversight and Reporting

The bill would also require the Government Accountability Office to study the results of the grant program and related enforcement efforts, so Congress can review how well the program is working.