Increases certain penalties for violations of wage and hour law.

This bill increases penalties for employers who violate New Jersey's wage and hour law. For first-time violations, fines rise from $100-$1,000 to $500-$1,000; second violations increase to $1,000-$2,000; and third or subsequent violations become a fourth-degree crime punishable by up to $10,000 in fines or 18 months in jail. Each week an employee is paid below the legal rate counts as a separate offense. The bill also allows the Labor Commissioner to impose administrative penalties up to $500 per violation after providing due process, including a 15-day hearing window. These changes directly affect employers who fail to pay proper wages or comply with record-keeping requirements.