Wage theft is an issue in many industries, including in restaurants across the country. According to the Department of Labor’s most recent compliance sweep, 83.8 percent of investigated restaurants had some type of wage violation. The restaurant industry in Washington, DC must be at the forefront of changing this pattern.

A recent report showed that only 11% of DC’s restaurants report their wages to the Department of Employment Services. This reporting is designed to ensure that workers are paid the full minimum wage including tips. It is also to protect the public’s interest, and ensure that the agency and elected officials are aware of wages by employers using the subminimum wage.

Unfortunately, this lack of compliance fails to meet either of those important goals.

RAMW can help solve this problem.

RAMW, make quarterly reporting of the wages of tipped workers to DOES a requirement of membership.

As the convener of the restaurant industry in DC, you have the ability to set high standards for membership. As the voice of the restaurant industry, you have an obligation to use your bully pulpit to make the industry a good one for all participants - including workers and customers.