An amendment to Tennessee’s Wage Regulations Act eliminating private suits for state wage-hour violations and giving the state Department of Labor exclusive power to enforce the law has been signed by Governor Bill Haslam. Previously, aggrieved workers could initiate a civil court proceeding; now, they must bring their complaints to the Department. The amendment, signed on April 23, 2013, also provides for an award of reasonable expenses, including attorneys’ fees and disbursements, for claims brought under the Act (TCA Title 50, Chapter 2, Part 1 and Title 50, Chapter 4, Part 1) in certain circumstances. The Act protects wage earners from unfair practices regarding pay.
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