The U.S. Department of Labor has recovered $94,870 in back wages for 22 employees of two Indian restaurants located in Artesia, Calif., following an investigation by the department’s Wage and Hour Division that found violations of the minimum wage, overtime and record-keeping provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act. The two establishments are Jay Bharat Foods Inc., doing business as Jay Bharat, and Standard Foods LLC, doing business as Standard Sweets and Snacks. Chandrakant Patel owns and operates both.

“It is against the law to not pay workers at least the minimum wage,” said Priscilla Garcia, director of the Wage and Hour Division’s West Covina District Office. “At the Labor Department, we are committed to protecting the rights of every worker, especially the most vulnerable among us.”

Investigators found that employees of both restaurants were required to work an average of 55 hours a week and paid “straight time” wages, rather than time and one-half their regular rate of pay, for hours worked in excess of 40 per week, as required by the FLSA. Additionally, accurate records of employees’ work hours and wages were not kept, in violation of FLSA record-keeping provisions.

After conducting employee interviews and reviewing payroll records, investigators determined that Jay Bharat owed a total of $41,428 in minimum wage and overtime back wages to 12 employees, and Standard Sweets and Snacks Restaurant owed $53,442 in minimum wage and overtime back wages to 10 employees.

Patel agreed to pay all back wages due to the affected employees and committed to maintaining future compliance with federal minimum wage, overtime and record-keeping requirements.