Since its creation, CUE has grown to over 17 agencies including the Attorney General’s Office (AGO), Department of Revenue (DOR), Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA), Department of Industrial Accidents (DIA) and Department of Labor Standards (DLS). CUE has also collected more than $76 million from unlawful businesses by enforcing labor, licensing, and tax laws. CUE partners share information and come together with a common purpose: to bring businesses and individuals into compliance with applicable state laws.
CUE will continue to maintain a toll-free referral line, 1-877-96-LABOR and online complaint system for businesses and individuals seeking information or to lodge complaints about suspected cases of fraud and misclassification.
Why tackle the underground economy? The underground economy and worker misclassification is not a new phenomenon or one which exists just in Massachusetts.
Most businesses are law-abiding and responsible, treat their employees fairly, and stand behind the goods and services they sell. These legitimate businesses often wind up paying higher costs when other businesses evade the law. Businesses in the underground economy pay workers sub-minimum wage or "off the books", illegally misclassifying their employees to avoid paying for unemployment or workers' compensation insurance and refusing to withhold taxes.
When the underground economy is allowed to flourish, workers are denied basic workplace rights and protections, legitimate businesses find they cannot compete and must shut down, consumers are subject to unregulated goods and unlicensed services and Massachusetts is cheated out of revenue that could otherwise fund worthy programs and services.
