Economists, sociologists, immigrant advocates and community groups are voicing concern about widespread wage and hour violations in many businesses that rely on immigrant labor including laundries, restaurants and garment factories. Violations are on such a large scale that no one can effectively monitor them. Immigrant storeowners who are unfamiliar with or unconcerned about wage laws combined with unskilled immigrant workers, both legal and illegal, and a government that is not vigorously enforcing the laws are contributing to the problem.
See "Beyond the Bargains, Grievances", Steven Greenhouse, The New York Times, June 5, 2005