In Australia we often have WorkSafe inspectors going to
random businesses and if they find a hazard that has not be
addressed your businesses gets an immediate hefty fine on
the spot.
This program had lead to the reduction of flagrant
disregard to workers safety of businesses trying to cut
their
margins in Australia. And thus there was also a
corresponding drop in deaths and injury in workplaces.
Using the same logic, can't an inspector program be
adopted to randomly visit workplaces to ensure that
employees are treated fairly and paid correctly and
prevent wage theft?
The random nature of inspection would be more effective
than relying on self regulation or people suing (because
often these workers can't afford to sue in the first place.
And even if they did win, it doesn't cost the offenders
much anyway).
So thus this would cut down in flagrant disregard for paying
the minimum wage or even the stated wage, which if not
accounted for will create a trap which is very hard for
workers to escape.