Gas Station Operator From Edison To Pay $226K In Back Wages, Damages To Workers: Feds

EDISON, NJ — A gas station operator from Edison was ordered by U.S. District Court to pay $226,000 in back wages to six workers, the Department of Labor (DOL) said Monday.

Owner Bidiawatie Singh and company officer Surjeet Singh were ordered to pay back wages as well as liquidated and punitive damages to six workers, in response to a complaint filed by the U.S. Department of Labor.

The consent judgment was entered on Oct. 5, DOL said.

According to an investigation conducted by the DOL, the operators of three full-service gas stations in New Jersey failed to pay the six workers the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour and overtime rates for hours over 40 in a workweek.

The gas station attendants were sometimes required to work 12-hour days, seven days a week, the DOL said. The gas station operator also retaliated against the workers, officials said.

The investigation was conducted at three gas stations — Spirit Gas Station (14 South NY Ave.) and Sun Petro Gas (101 Absecon Blvd.), in Absecon, and Delta Gas (734 W. White Horse Pike) in Egg Harbor Township

“Our investigations show that the pay practices of New Jersey’s gas station industry employers all too commonly shortchange workers and violate federal law,” Charlene Rachor, Wage and Hour Division District Director in Lawrenceville, said in a media statement.

“This judgment secures hard-earned wages for gas station workers who labor long hours mostly outdoors trying to support themselves and their families.”

Singh was asked to pay $107,149 in back wages, $107,149 in liquidated damages and $12,000 in punitive damages. Around $3,702 was paid in civil money penalties

New Jersey is one of the few states in the country that depends on gas station attendants to operate pumps and provide other services.

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