19/04/2021 Catholic group finds wage theft in US construction industry - UCA News protection money. He learned how to do heating, venting and air-conditioning work at his first job site in early 2020. But other workers told me that they worked overtime sometimes but never got paid time and a half. A lot of people quit during the time I was there because of the low pay, said Ivan, who got paid $12 an hour. I never got the raise Jimmy (the subcontractor) promised, so I quit in June, he added. Labor brokers take advantage of us because they know we are immigrants and some of us are undocumented, Ivan complained. Another worker, Carmen, 35, came to the U.S. from Mexico five years ago. She ventured from Virginia into Washington to find better paying work than babysitting, and got a job finishing drywall at a construction site in a rapidly gentrifying neighborhood. When I learned that the minimum wage in D.C. was $15 per hour, I was angry and asked the boss why we don't get the minimum wage, Carmen said. He told me, 'We don't owe you an explanation. You can take the work at the rate we pay or get out.' Sometimes we work overtime, but we don't get any overtime pay like the law says. I'd like to find a better job but it's hard right now because of COVID, so I'm still here. As Catholics we believe in worker justice, Sinyai told CNS. We believe that the laborer is worth his wages, as Scripture tells us, and when workers, especially the most vulnerable workers -in this case immigrant workers -- who are unfamiliar with their rights or uncomfortable exercising them, that concerns all of us faithful. Support our Catholic journalism with a contribution of any size Your contribution will help the Catholic journalists and editors in UCA News to report news, features, commentaries, video stories and podcasts on issues affecting the lives of millions of Catholics around the world. Here is a gift of two valuable books as a token of appreciation to you. Check your mailbox for links to these PDF/e-Books. The Pontificate Church historians examine the key features of Francis' papacy. Mission in Asia The history and challenges of Christianity in Asia, especially China and Japan https://www-ucanews-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.ucanews.com/amp/catholic-group-finds-wage-theft-in-us-construction-industry/92109?am… 4/8