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Portland council committee hears advocates describe widespread wage theft, enforcement gaps
Summary
Advocates told the Labor and Workforce Development Committee that wage theft takes many forms across low‑wage sectors, that state enforcement is backlogged, and that the city can use procurement and transparency tools to reduce abuse.
Wage theft is a prominent problem in Oregon, Councilor Loretta Smith said Thursday as the Labor and Workforce Development Committee opened a three‑part discussion on unpaid wages and worker protections.
Advocates from the Northwest Workers Justice Project and allied labor groups told the committee that unpaid overtime, misclassification, withheld tips and payroll deductions are common across low‑wage industries and that state enforcement capacity has not kept pace with complaints. "My name is Kate Susman. I'm with the Northwest Workers Justice Project," Susman said in opening remarks, summarizing the group's research and client work.
Why it matters: Advocates said wage theft reduces household…
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