Some dress uniforms worn by NYPD cops were stitched together in a Garment District sweatshop where workers toiled up to 80 hours a week without overtime, state officials said yesterday.
The Police Department said it was surprised at the news, and immediately “suspended” the company, Forest Uniform, from its list of companies authorized to outfit officers.
“Our criteria is, we examine their workmanship and the quality of their materials,” said Police Commissioner Ray Kelly. He said the department had never checked on working conditions there.
Labor Department officials said 16 employees of Forest Uniform Corp. and its subcontractor, Technical Garment USA Co., are owed nearly $500,000 in overtime.
One man racked up $30,000 in unpaid wages by often working 30 to 40 hours of overtime each week, Labor Department officials said.
Six companies are authorized to manufacture police dress uniforms, Kelly said. Police officers buy the outfits from privately owned shops and stores, and not directly from the department.
Workers at the accused companies slaved away in a brightly lit 10th-floor shop at 251 W. 39th St., crowded with sewing machines and decorated with hanging plants.
The shop’s bosses allegedly kept two sets of books, one for the payroll that showed employees worked 40 to 45 hours a week, and a separate set of records showing their real work hours.
Investigators said Forest Uniform had failed three years in a row to register as an apparel manufacturer. Registering for a first year costs $200; annual renewal is $150.
The company’s registration lapse allowed state investigators to raid the shop on Tuesday night and seize and tag its equipment and whatever apparel was on the premises.
“For too long, this employer and its contractor have flagrantly thumbed their noses at our investigators,” said state Labor Commissioner M. Patricia Smith.
“Enough is enough. Our patience in this matter is over.”
The tags placed on the companies’ garments and equipment are supposed to ensure that the equipment is not used, and the garments are not sold.
“If we revisit the employer and find any of these garments removed or the equipment being used, that is further offense,” said Leo Rosales, a department spokesman.
The state hopes the garment and equipment tags will lead the company to fork over the employees’ wages, Rosales said.
In the meantime, Forest Uniform has 15 days to appeal the state’s seizures. The company’s principal, Michael Schackett, declined to say whether he’ll appeal.
“I’m sorry, I can’t comment,” he said.
Technical Garment USA’s husband-and-wife owners, Andres Ortiz and Mindy Wong, could not be located.