March 10, 2017

A Lowell reusable bag factory has agreed to pay nearly $1.2 million to resolve numerous alleged wage and hour law violations and for retaliating against employees, Massachusetts announced. As a result, more than 550 affected workers will receive restitution, some of it in double damages. The company, known as UnWrapped Inc., primarily sells reusable grocery bags to chain supermarkets and many of its workers are paid by staffing agencies. The AG’s Office alleges that the employer used staffing agencies in an attempt to shield itself from liability, asserting that it did not employ the workers. In a settlement agreement with the AG’s Office, Unwrapped, Inc. and its president Steven Katz, Esq. have agreed to pay $293,170 for alleged violations of state laws including failure to pay minimum wage, failure to provide earned sick time, and retaliation against two workers who cooperated with the investigation. MA