An Act relative to wage theft and due process

This bill strengthens Massachusetts laws against wage theft by clarifying definitions, increasing maximum penalties to $25,000, and requiring employers to provide new written notices about pay rates and schedules within ten days of hiring. It introduces an affirmative defense for employers who maintain detailed records of hours worked and payments, while also ensuring that workers who suffer from wage theft do not lose their eligibility for unemployment benefits. Additionally, the legislation empowers the Department of Unemployment Assistance to issue stop-work orders against employers who fail to pay required unemployment contributions, giving these orders a seven-day delay before they take effect. These changes aim to improve due process for both employers and employees while creating stronger enforcement tools to recover unpaid wages.