Don’t STEAL Act

The Don't STEAL Act amends the Fair Labor Standards Act to require employers to pay workers at least the higher amount specified in their employment contracts or by federal and state wage laws, ensuring that contractual agreements are not undercut by statutory minimums. This provision directly affects employees engaged in commerce who have signed contracts promising specific compensation rates. The bill also establishes criminal penalties for willful wage theft, allowing for fines and imprisonment of up to five years if the unpaid wages exceed $1,000, or one year if they do not. Additionally, it directs that any fines collected from these violations be used by the Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division to fund further enforcement efforts.