Restaurant Cited for Paying Workers in Cash

State authorities Wednesday cited a popular Korean restaurant for paying workers in cash and opened a wider investigation into other alleged unfair labor practices.

Investigators with the state Division of Labor Standards Enforcement made an unannounced visit to the Chosun Galbi Restaurant in Koreatown after seeing news advisories that demonstrators would be picketing the establishment.

After talking with the four workers who were at the eatery and a manager, the restaurant was cited for cash payment of wages, which is illegal under state law, and failure to pay workers a premium for working split shifts. The first citation carries a civil penalty of $14,000, which can be appealed. The second citation allows investigators to subpoena payroll records for the last three years, and authorities said they will conduct an audit to determine if the restaurant may be violating minimum wage and overtime laws.

The restaurant’s owner, Kyong Mi Ji, could not be reached for comment. But an attorney for the restaurant, Aviv L. Tuchman, denied that it has violated labor practices or has mistreated workers.