Every year in New York City, workers are stiffed out of almost $1 billion in wages by deadbeat employers who just won’t pay them what they’re owed.

It doesn’t help that for every dollar that New York employers refuse to give their workers, they only have to pay an extra quarter in penalties if they get caught.

But that can change right now. All that’s needed is a vote in the New York State Assembly before the end of the year on the Wage Theft Prevention Act — a long-overdue reform sponsored by our friends at Make the Road New York.

The Wage Theft Prevention Act would put in place REAL penalties and safeguards against employers who stiff their workers out of pay, and the bill has already been passed by the New York State Senate.

If the Assembly also approves it before January, the Wage Theft Prevention Act can be signed into law by the Governor. But if the Assembly doesn’t act, this important reform bill will die, and we’ll have to start over again next year.

We strongly urge the New York State Assembly to pass this legislation before the end of the year, and finally give workers the pay they’re owed.