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Wal-Mart fined—for wrong reason

Published Apr 14, 2005 9:22 PM

Wal-Mart, the country’s largest retailer with 3,600 stores and $10.3 billion in stolen profits, has agreed to pay the federal government $11 million to settle complaints that hundreds of undocumented workers had cleaned its stores. Though this settlement is four times larger than any other single payment to the government in similar cases, it’s but a pittance from the retailer’s cash register, which rang up $288.2 billion in sales last year.

Several cases, one in 2001 and another in 2003, exposed the fact that janitors at more than 60 Wal-Mart stores in 25 states were routinely forced to work eight-hour shifts, seven days a week, with no overtime. Some workers were even locked in the stores overnight.

Ironically, these outrageously illegal working conditions were only exposed when federal investigators arrested the workers for being undocumented.

The real crime is that Wal-Mart super-exploited the workers under such horrendous working conditions. So why should the $11 million go to the federal government? The money belongs in the pockets of the workers, who deserve reparations for their unpaid labor—especially those who were imprisoned.

Attorney James L. Linsey, representing workers in a New Jersey lawsuit, is suing Wal-Mart and the contractors who supplied the janitors for not paying 10,000 immigrants time-and-a-half for overtime. “It’s time for Wal-Mart to focus on the individuals who were systematically exploited and to consider what amount of reparations is appropriate,” said Linsey. He added, “It’s outrageous this could occur in the early 21st century.” (New York Times, March 19)

Outrageous, but not unexpected, when you consider Wal-Mart’s lust for profits.