Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo says the new 200-member multi-agency Minimum Wage Enforcement and Outreach Unit will ensure that all minimum wage workers across the state, including 40,387 in the North Country, are paid the proper rate.

The Enforcement and Outreach Unit will also help businesses understand their responsibilities and workers understand their rights under the new wage regulations.

Earlier this year, Gov.Cuomo signed landmark legislation making New York the first state in the nation to enact a $15 minimum wage. On Dec. 31, 2016, the first benchmark of the phase-in schedule for the minimum wage increase went into effect.

"New York led the way and became the first state in the nation to enact a $15 minimum wage, because no one who works full-time should be condemned to a life of poverty," Cuomo said. "With the first increase in the minimum wage now in effect, this new enforcement unit will ensure that workers are being paid what they earned, and employers who flaunt the law will be held accountable."

Enforcement and Outreach Unit

· Multi-Agency Approach: The Unit will include specially trained staff from a number of state agencies, including the Department of Labor, Department of Taxation, Workers Compensation Board and the Department of State. Trained staff will educate both workers and businesses on specific requirements included under the new minimum wage rates. In addition, a worker protection web tool and hotline have launched for both businesses and workers to utilize to ensure all New Yorker’s receive proper pay.

·Enforcement: Led by the New York State Department of Labor, state investigators will enforce the new minimum wage law by ensuring businesses are held accountable, responding to complaints by workers, and conducting proactive investigations. The Department of Labor can conduct an audit of an employer's entire workforce and the wages paid.

·Outreach: The Unit will offer minimum wage regulation training sessions and webinars to key stakeholders across the state to help businesses identify pay rates for their employees. The Unit will work with regional chambers of commerce and businesses improvement districts; immigrant small businesses; labor unions; industry groups and worker advocacy groups.

·Advocacy: New promotional and educational materials will be created and distributed to workers and businesses to help them understand their rights and responsibilities under the new law.

Minimum Wage Web Tool, Hotline

A new worker protection web tool is available at ny.gov/MyWage. This web tool will help individuals determine the minimum wage they should be paid by their employer under the new wage rates. Minimum wage can be affected by the date, the location of employment and any tips that may be received.

The tool may not cover additional aspects of the minimum wage law that could result in further adjustments to pay. Additional questions may be submitted using the Minimum Wage Hotline.

Every worker complaint that is reported to the state will be investigated by the Enforcement and Outreach Unit. The Unit urges any worker who has not been paid the proper wages, or anyone concerned that they are not receiving fair pay, to contact 1-888-4-NYSDOL (6-9-7-3-6-5).

$15 Minimum Wage Phase-in

The $15 minimum wage legislation was passed as part of the 2016-17 state budget. The phase-in schedule on a regional basis is as follows:

· For workers in St. Lawrence County (and most parts of the state) the minimum wage will increase to $9.70 at the end of 2016, then another .70 each year after until reaching $12.50 on 12/31/2020 – after which the minimum wage will continue to increase to $15 on an indexed schedule to be set by the Director of the Division of Budget in consultation with the Department of Labor.

· For workers in New York City employed by large businesses (those with at least 11 employees), the minimum wage will rise to $11 at the end of 2016, then another $2 each year after, reaching $15 on 12/31/2018.

· For workers in New York City employed by small businesses (those with 10 employees or fewer), the minimum wage will rise to $10.50 by the end of 2016, then another $1.50 each year after, reaching $15 on 12/31/2019.

· For workers in Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester Counties, the minimum wage will increase to $10 at the end of 2016, then $1 each year after, reaching $15 on 12/31/2021.