Increases penalties for employers who steal wages, giving workers stronger protections.
This bill would make it a crime with serious penalties for employers who don't pay workers what they're owed. It would create a new "Right to Full Compensation" for employees, ensuring they get paid what their contract or law requires. Employers who steal more than $1,000 in wages could face up to 5 years in prison.
Today, the Fair Labor Standards Act prohibits wage theft. However, criminal penalties are less severe, and there isn't an explicit "Right to Full Compensation" based on contracts. After this bill, employers who intentionally steal more than $1,000 in wages or overtime would face fines and up to 5 years in prison. Those stealing $1,000 or less would face fines and up to 1 year in prison. Employees would have a clear "Right to Full Compensation" and stronger ways to get their unpaid wages back.
HR 5048 · 119th Congress · August 26, 2025 · AI Summary by gemini-2.5-flash · 8/10
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3 filings mentioned this bill
Amounts reflect total quarterly lobbying spend reported to the Senate, not bill-specific spending. Source: Senate LDA filings.