San Diego Firms to Pay $840K for Wage Theft Against Cross-Border Workers

The Department of Labor uncovered severe underpayment practices, with some employees earning less than $3 per hour.

Three companies—Ruffo de Alba Forwarders, SAI Logistics Exports, and Moving Technologies of America—were found guilty of wage theft.
The Department of Labor's investigation recovered nearly $840,000 in back wages and damages for 32 employees.
Violations included paying below the federal minimum wage and denying overtime pay.
The companies used tactics like paying in Mexican pesos and misclassifying workers to avoid legal obligations.
Since 2021, over $5 million has been recovered from similar cases in the San Diego area.