LABOR

Garment Industry Labor Violations Uncovered: Federal officials announced that a sweep earlier this month of 56 sewing contractors revealed that nearly 75% of them failed to pay minimum wage or overtime pay. The sewing shops, located in Orange, Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties, owed $745,749 to 1,230 garment workers, officials said. The shops singled out for investigation were those not registered with the state or which had a history of prior violations. They provide finished garments to 80 clothing manufacturers, seven of whom may, as a result of the sweeps, be placed under strict federal supervision in the hiring of contractors.