Cash Pay and Underage Workers Go Hand in Hand on Some Construction Sites
BDN was recently provided with video evidence that underage workers are being employed by construction crews working for developer/general contractor, SA Golden Investments in Southern California. This discovery was made during an investigation into tax fraud and worker exploitation at a 72-unit residential site in Fontana, California. The video provides a revealing glimpse into the realities faced by many non-union workers in the construction industry.
In the video, representatives of the Carpenters Union in Southern California arrived to meet the developer, Saber Awad, namesake of the company. Several workers were on site performing drywall finishing. Through conversations with the workers, the labor representatives found out that the workers only knew that they were working for a man named Arturo, not directly for Saber Awad or SA Golden Investments. Arturo, they explained, had recently started his own company, though the name remained unknown to them.
Questionable Payment Practices
The workers divulged that they were paid both in cash and by company check. For each apartment unit the four "man" crew finished, they received about $630. Given their rigorous schedule—working 10-12 hours daily from Monday to Friday, plus Saturdays and sometimes Sundays, the workers managed to complete approximately six units per week. This workload amounts to a grueling 50 to 72 hours weekly.
"They live in a constant state of fear, They are constantly taking the extra hours, working days with no benefits no health coverage. They stack cash for the rainy days and that's all they know to do because they are entirely dependent on the contractor and his criminal methods and this of course, is by design," says Eduardo Campos, one of the reps who was there.
Underage Labor
The conversation took an even heavier turn when they noticed a very young boy covered in taping mud accompanying the workers. The worker identified him as his 12-year-old son, who had been brought over from Mexico eight months prior. The father revealed that his other son, aged 17, was also working on the project in a different unit. The representatives try to talk with the boy but it is evident that the younger brother did not speak English yet.
"They feel they have no recourse other than to play along and give the contractor what they want and not make any noise about it. They are kept in the dark and really have no idea what they are truly worth. And allowing underage labor is on another level. Construction is inherently dangerous. What happens if that kid gets hurt? The only saving grace as morbid as it sounds is that at least he's with his father- if something were to happen"
Developers' Indifference
According to Campos, the father’s voice conveyed a deep sense of discouragement, a "sentiment that resonates with many residential non-union workers in the industry, I've talked to. These workers often endure mistreatment, unfair wages, and exploitation. It takes it's toll. The sight of a man working tirelessly alongside his sons to make ends meet is a stark reminder of the inequities that persist in this type of construction."
This situation exemplifies a broader issue within the industry, where developers and general contractors, such as Awad, turn a blind eye to the exploitation occurring on their projects. While these developers make immense profit from their ventures, the workers and their families continue to struggle. And, as in the case with the Saber Site, even have to resort to having underage family members on board to make ends meet. "Sure we have these nostalgic memories of working with our Dad's- holding the flashlight kind of thing- this is not the same."
Call to Action
As an industry, it is imperative to address and halt the exploitation of these workers. The practices exemplified by SA Golden not only violate labor laws but are undeniably inhumane when child labor is in play. Developers and contractors must be held accountable, and fair treatment, just wages, and safe working conditions must be priority number one for all workers across the entire industry.
This video sheds light on the true scope and depths to which criminal contractors will go to fatten their bottom line. It is another call to action for industry leaders, policymakers, and the public to demand increased oversight when it comes to an industry where operations are often opaque.
The video will be shown to the proper authorities and he hopes swift action will be taken to correct the developer. A small victory moving forward is that the elusive developer/ contractor is now 0n the radar, not just for reps but for local lawmakers as well. "The greatest injustice is not just in the hours they work or the pay they receive—it's in the stolen futures of those too young to be there at all. I've seen too many of these situations not end well," laments Campos.
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