Yes. Wage laws cover all workers. Your immigration status does not make a difference. These include laws about:

• minimum wage,
• overtime,
• tips,  
• getting paid,
• records, and
• working on holidays.

You may be able to get the money your employer owes you. Call the Massachusetts Attorney General's Fair Labor Hotline at (617) 727-3465 or file a complaint online.

If your employer breaks the law, call the Massachusetts Attorney General's Fair Labor Hotline at (617) 727-3465 or file a complaint online.

No. Do not be afraid to file a complaint against your employer. The Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General will not share information with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). They have no ties to ICE. The Attorney General wants to hear from undocumented workers who have complaints.

You have two resources if you are not paid according to the law:

1. the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office, and
2. the U.S. Department of Labor.

It is illegal for any employer to get back at an employee for making a complaint to either the Massachusetts Attorney General's office or the U.S. Department of Labor.

Massachusetts Attorney General

When you file with the Attorney General’s office, your employer will learn you made a complaint. That does not mean your employer is allowed to retaliate (get back at you) in any way.

See the Attorney General’s Fair Labor Division website.

U.S. Department of Labor

The Department of Labor (DOL) enforces federal minimum wage and overtime laws. Many people prefer going to the DOL because the DOL does not tell your employer you made a complaint. Your complaint is “anonymous.” You may feel more comfortable working for your employer if they do not know you complained. Many people will report violations while they continue to work for their employer.

See the DOL Wage and Hour Division website.

Who can go to the Department of Labor?

Anyone who feels they were not paid correctly can call the DOL. But the DOL cannot help all workers. Usually the DOL can only investigate for workers that work for companies that:

• have 50 workers or more, or
• have offices or do business in more than one state.

Do I get federal minimum wage or state minimum wage when I go to the Department of Labor?

If the DOL finds that you are owed minimum wage and overtime, they will make your employer pay the Massachusetts $15.00/hour minimum wage.