Stop Sweatshops Act of 1997
Latest action (7 Jan 1997): Introduced
What this bill does
**H.R. 23 — Stop Sweatshops Act of 1997**
This bill would amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to make garment manufacturers legally responsible for wage, hour, child labor, and industrial-homework violations committed by the contractors they hire to produce apparel. Manufacturers would be civilly liable to the same extent as the contractor and subject to the same penalties, and would be jointly and severally liable to workers for unpaid wages if a contractor violated minimum wage or overtime rules. The bill also increases penalties for recordkeeping violations, adding civil fines of up to $1,000 per employee for failing to keep required payroll records, and fines of $10,000 (or $15,000 for a second offense) for submitting fraudulent payroll records to concealviolations or actual hours worked.
The bill affects garment manufacturers, contractors, and retailers involved in producing or arranging for the production of clothing and related apparel items, as well as the garment workers whose wages and working conditions the law is meant to protect. Congress justified the changes by citing findings that sweatshop conditions persist in the garment industry, that many employers fail to keep accurate wage records, and that manufacturers should share responsibility for contractors' compliance.
The bill was introduced on January 7, 1997, by Rep. William Clay and referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. It received no further action or vote and did not become law.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
Stop Sweatshops Act of 1997 - Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to provide for the civil liability of manufacturers for sweatshop conditions maintained by their contractors in the garment industry. Sets forth civil penalties for violation of recordkeeping and payroll accounting requirements.
Common questions
- What does H.R. 23 do?
- **H.R. 23 — Stop Sweatshops Act of 1997** This bill would amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to make garment manufacturers legally responsible for wage, hour, child labor, and industrial-homework violations committed by the contractors they hire to produce apparel. Manufacturers would be civilly liable to the same extent as the contractor and subject to the same penalties, and would be jointly and severally liable to workers for unpaid wages if a contractor violated minimum wage or overtime rules. The bill also increases penalties for recordkeeping violations, adding civil fines of up to $1,000 per employee for failing to keep required payroll records, and fines of $10,000 (or $15,000 for a second offense) for submitting fraudulent payroll records to concealviolations or actual hours worked. The bill affects garment manufacturers, contractors, and retailers involved in producing or arranging for the production of clothing and related apparel items, as well as the garment workers whose wages and working conditions the law is meant to protect. Congress justified the changes by citing findings that sweatshop conditions persist in the garment industry, that many employers fail to keep accurate wage records, and that manufacturers should share responsibility for contractors' compliance. The bill was introduced on January 7, 1997, by Rep. William Clay and referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. It received no further action or vote and did not become law.
- Has H.R. 23 become law?
- Not yet. As of 7 Jan 1997, H.R. 23 is introduced.
- Who sponsored H.R. 23?
- H.R. 23 was sponsored by Rep. William “Bill” Clay [D-MO1, 1969-2000] (Democrat-MO), with 110 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on H.R. 23?
- Introduced (7 Jan 1997).
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