Labor investigators cite county restaurants

The state Labor Commissioner's Office was back in San Bernardino and Riverside counties again this week, issuing 38 citations totaling $207,000 in fines to local restaurants.

Investigators conducted sweeps of five restaurants in San Bernardino County and 39 eateries in neighboring Riverside County, according to a statement issued Wednesday by the state Division of Labor Standards Enforcement.

The names of the restaurants were not immediately available.

Alleged violations that were cited by investigators include failure to:

• provide workers’ compensation insurance
• provide itemized deductions,
• pay minimum wage, and
• secure permits for working minors (child labor)

"We are here to ensure that the restaurant industry properly pays its employees and that the rights of these workers are safeguarded," said Labor Commissioner Angela Bradstreet, in a statement. "Restaurants that operate outside the law have an unfair advantage over their competitors. It’s our job to protect workers and level the playing field for those restaurant operators who do follow the law."

People with work-related questions or complaints can call the California Workers’ Information Hotline at (866) 924-9757.