The U.S.Labor Department announced today that it has launched an enforcement initiative focused on Colorado’s agricultural nursery industry.
The agency said it is to inform workers of their rights and increase employer compliance with the minimum wage, overtime, record-keeping and child labor provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act.
“This initiative aims to promote sustained employer compliance, particularly among nurseries engaged in retail services such as selling trees, plants, seeds and other garden products to the general public,” said Cynthia Watson, regional administrator for the Wage and Hour Division in the Southwest.
“Some of these nurseries even provide landscaping services in residential and commercial areas,” Watson added.
Under the initiative, Wage and Hour Division investigators are visiting nurseries throughout Colorado to identify and remedy common violations.
Employee interviews and inspection of records and employment practices are being conducted to ensure compliance.
When violations are found, corrective action will be taken. These include litigation and civil money penalties.
The division is conducting outreach to workers, industry representatives, community organizations and foreign consulates.
Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com on twitter @HowardPankratz
