SAN DIEGO, Calif. --- The Labor and Workforce Development Agency on April 15 announced that Economic Employment Enforcement Coalition (EEEC) investigators issued 41 citations for labor violations ---with fines totaling more than $226,000 --- in a recent sweep of 28 San Diego auto body businesses.

The enforcement actions, conducted on April 9 and 10 with Bureau of Automotive Repair authorities, uncovered serious violations that included:

* Employment of a minor under the age of 18 without proper permits and certification at one shop

* Failure to pay overtime at four shops

* Failure to pay minimum wage at two shops

* Failure to keep records and post labor notices as mandated by law at 16 shops

* Failure to maintain workers' compensation insurance at 18 shops.

"These shops failed to carry workers’ compensation insurance, and that’s a violation we take very seriously," said EEEC Director David Dorame. "In these cases, we issue work stop orders and send employees home until the business proves an active policy is in place to cover workers. By geting enforcement against illegal operators, we help level the playing field for law-abiding businesses."

To request a complete list of the violations and businesses cited, email the Department of Industrial Relations at: Communications@dir.ca.gov.

Launched in July of 2005 by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, the EEEC is a multi-agency task force designed to root out California's underground economy by enforcing California labor laws, and educating business owners and workers about those laws and regulations in workshops held regularly statewide.

During unannounced enforcement sweeps, the EEEC targets businesses that avoid labor, tax and licensing laws, safety and health regulations and carry no workers’ compensation insurance for their employees.