By Shira Schoenberg
On July 13, 2016
BOSTON – The Massachusetts Senate on Wednesday passed a controversial bill aimed at cracking down on wage theft.
“This is a matter of general fairness for the employees,” said State Sen. Sal
DiDomenico, D-Everett, the bill’s sponsor.
The bill, S.2416, passed by a 38-2 vote. The two dissenters were State Sen. Kenneth Donnelly, D-Arlington, and State Sen. Ryan Fattman, R-Webster.
The bill would make companies that contract with a subcontractor who withholds wages liable for those wages. The contractor could also be liable for fees and fines, if it knows or should have known about the wage theft.