THE U-S DEPARTMENT OF LABOR SAYS SOME COMPANIES WORKING NEW MEXICO’S OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY HAVE BEEN VIOLATING WAGE LAWS. DR. DAVID WEIL IS THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE DEPARTMENT’S WAGE AND HOUR DIVISION. HE TELLS US VIOLATIONS OFTEN INCLUDE PAYING WORKERS A FLAT DAILY RATE, WITH NO REGARD FOR HOURS WORKED. HE SAYS HE’S MOST WORRIED THAT BAD INDUSTRY PRACTICES LIKE THIS TEND TO SPREAD.
THE LABOR DEPARTMENT SAYS IT RECOVERED MORE THAN 1-POINT-3 MILLION DOLLARS IN UNDERPAID WAGES FOR WORKERS IN NEW MEXICO AND WEST TEXAS LAST YEAR.
