FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thai Community Development Center Contact: Panida Rzonca, panida@thaicdc.org
Bet Tzedek Contact: Vincent Cummings, vcummings@bettzedek.org
North Hollywood Sanamluang Café Pays Criminal Restitution for Labor Violations
JULY 16, 2021, LOS ANGELES, CA — Sanamluang Café, a popular Thai restaurant and late-night spot in North Hollywood, paid $300,000 in criminal restitution to nine workers who had filed claims for wage theft. This case sends a powerful message to restaurants throughout Los Angeles: Pay the required minimum wage and proper overtime in the City of Los Angeles, or you may face criminal charges. The Thai Community Development Center and Bet Tzedek, community‑based organizations that assist with workers’ rights issues, represented the workers in the investigation by the California Labor Commissioner’s Office. The Labor Commissioner’s citations were subsequently included in a criminal restitution order secured by the California Department of Justice.
The Sanamluang Café workers experienced widespread violations, including the employer’s pattern of failing to pay workers the proper minimum wage over the past twenty years. The employer’s wage theft was exacerbated since the City of Los Angeles began increasing the minimum wage in 2016 toprotect low-wage workers. Aside from stealing wages, Sanamluang Café attempted to hideemployees to avoid the City’s higher minimum wage for employers with more than 25 employees, and the owner pleaded guilty to sales tax evasion, payroll tax evasion, and worker’s compensation fraud. Some workers were still paid as little as $5 per hour, less than half the applicable minimum wage at the time the Labor Commissioner’s investigation began. Although the workers regularlyworked more than 8 hours per day or 40 hours per week, the employer did not pay overtime.
The Thai Community Development Center and Bet Tzedek referred the case to the LaborCommissioner’s Bureau of Field Enforcement, which investigates workplace wide complaints. None of the workers dared to come forward individually because, like many workers in the Thaicommunity, they feared being blacklisted. The investigation by the Labor Commissioner’s Officewas the first opportunity these workers had to speak out about their mistreatment.
The workers in this case are particularly courageous to come forward given what drove them to report the wage theft. In August 2017, the California Board of Equalization and the California Highway Patrol raided the business. They handcuffed the workers during the raid, as if they were criminals, and did not provide a translator until well after the workers had been handcuffed. In the following days, Thai Community Development Center and Bet Tzedek met with restaurant staff regarding theirworking conditions and referred the case to the Labor Commissioner’s Office.
“The day I started working, I felt like I was lucky to get the job. I never thought that I would face workconditions that included extended working hours, unlawful wages, and other hardships. I was taken advantage of by the greed of the owner. I want to see change for the better, for justice, and for fairness, which are rights that we deserve.” –Anonymous Worker #1
“The most important thing that employers must have for employees is not only compassion, but also honesty and to not exploit employees.” –Anonymous Worker #2
“The Thai Community Development Center has been fighting for worker justice for over 26 years due to the rampant labor exploitation in the community. We urge workers to come forward to discuss their options with us anonymously. This case should be a warning for all employers that flout minimum wage and other laws as we see that the California Department of Justice is prioritizing exploited workers above other fines and penalties that could have been collected in this case.” – Panida Rzonca, Thai Community Development Center Directing Attorney
“We are pleased that the workers’ persistence and bravery in asserting their basic workplace rights has brought them their long-overdue wages to which they are entitled. Wage theft harms our community by denying hardworking employees the wages they need to support themselves and their families.” – Matthew DeCarolis, Bet Tzedek Legal Services Staff Attorney
About Bet Tzedek
Bet Tzedek is committed to providing free legal services to those that need them most. BetTzedek attorneys and advocates help people of all communities and generations secure life’snecessities. Wherever people are in crisis, Bet Tzedek’s core services and rapid response programs provide stability and hope. Founded in 1974, Bet Tzedek – Los Angeles’ House of Justice – helps over 40,000 people each year.
