New law toughens penalties for wage violations

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick has allowed a bill requiring companies to pay hefty penalties for failing to pay full wages or overtime to become law.

Patrick and Democratic lawmakers were at odds over the bill, which was designed to toughen a 1993 law intended to require companies found not to have paid wages or overtime to pay workers three times the amount owed.

Patrick initially sent the bill back to lawmakers, saying he supports tough penalties but wanted to give judges more discretion to require lesser fines in some cases.

Lawmakers rejected the changes and shipped the bill back to Patrick. He decided to allow it to become law without his signature.
(AP)