Press Release  AG Campbell Releases Labor Day Report On Office's Actions To Protect Workers In Massachusetts

BOSTON —  Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell has released the Office’s 2023 Labor Day Report, highlighting efforts to protect workers across the Commonwealth from exploitation. A copy of the annual report is available on the AGO’s website, here.  

In Fiscal Year 2023, the AGO’s Fair Labor Division (FLD) assisted more than 11,000 workers to secure $4.2 million in restitution for workers and $9.2 million in penalties  

“Massachusetts has some of the most robust worker protection laws in the country.  Every day, my office works hard to enforce these laws so that workers can live with dignity, stability and security,” said AG Campbell. “When our workers are protected, Massachusetts is stronger – and this Labor Day, we are honoring the workers who contribute day-in and day-out to ensure our families, communities, and economy thrive.” 

Since AG Campbell took office in January, FLD has doubled down on efforts to combat wage theft, particularly in the construction industry, where marginalized workers are disproportionately impacted. In FY2023, FLD assisted nearly 600 construction workers with wage theft claims and assessed $1.2 million in restitution. FLD has continued to hold companies who failed to pay a prevailing wage accountable.  

Enforcing the state’s child labor laws is another priority of AG Campbell’s Office. This year, the AGO created an internal Child Labor Working Group to centralize the Office’s ongoing work, partnered with educators and administrators across the Commonwealth to identify and intervene in cases of harmful working conditions, and built on the success for the Healthy Summer Youth Jobs Grant Program by providing vital grants that offer training and skills development – and employment – that is focused on health and wellness. In FY2023, AG Campbell issued citations totaling over $517,000 against various Dunkin franchises for child labor violations. 

FLD has also preserved workers' rights in the Commonwealth by issuing citations against employers for illegal employee misclassification. The citations totaled over $5.1 million in restitution and penalties for misclassification enforcement and helped over 1,300 workers. Notably, the Office has enforced Massachusetts’ laws in the gig economy, issuing three citations against GoPuff for $6.2 million for misclassifying their employees as independent contractors and denying workers access to earned sick time.  “When employers misclassify their workers, they deprive them of basic employee protections and benefits, and create an unfair playing field for other law-abiding companies,” AG Campbell said about the citations. 

Immigrant workers’ rights continue to be at the top of the agenda for the AG’s Office. In May, FLD issued an updated advisory reminding the public that all workers, no matter their immigration status, are protected by the state’s labor and employment laws. FLD also issued FAQs on how the AGO can support workers who fear immigration-related retaliation as a result of an active investigation. The Division continues to meet regularly with immigrant worker centers and advocates to share information about workplace trends and protections and provides multi-lingual resources and trainings on workers' rights. 

The AG’s Fair Labor Division consists of attorneys, investigators, intake and support staff. More than 40 percent of the Division’s employees speak at least one language in addition to English, including Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Haitian Creole and Vietnamese. The Division enforces state laws regulating the payment of wages, including minimum wage, overtime, prevailing wage, and earned sick leave. It also protects employees from exploitation and wage theft through strong partnerships and community education.  

Workers who believe that their rights have been violated can call the office’s Fair Labor Hotline at (617) 727-3465. More information about the state’s wage and hour laws is also available in multiple languages at www.mass.gov/ago/fairlabor. 

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