NJDOL Issues Stop-Work Order to Buena Farm Owing Nearly $80K in Back Wages
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 30, 2025
TRENTON – Investigators from the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development’s (NJDOL) Division of Wage and Hour Compliance issued the following stop-work order on September 24, 2025:
Employer: Larry’s Asian Farm in Buena, N.J.
Employer Address: 231 Route 54, Buena, N.J. 08310
Nature of Work: Agricultural work
SWO Category: General Enforcement
Violations: No records provided; posting; hinderance; no Earned Sick Leave records; no notification/posting for Earned Sick Leave; failing to properly classify employees; unpaid wages/late payment; no statement of deductions.
Monetary Assessments: Wages $78,978.55; Fees $14,216.14; Penalties $7,750.
Workers Affected: 1
NJDOL has issued 206 stop-work orders since these powers were expanded in July 2019.
Stop-work orders are initiated by NJDOL to halt work being performed in a manner that exploits workers or is otherwise noncompliant with state laws and regulations. In General Enforcement cases, an assessment is made against a company found to be in violation of Wage and Hour laws and regulations. If the employer fails to contest or pay the assessment within the statutory time period, a stop-work order may be issued after a seven-day notice is served upon the employer. The stop-work order remains in place until the award is paid in full by the employer.
NJDOL continues to monitor locations where stop-work orders have been issued. Workers are to be paid during the time the stop-work order is in effect, for a period of up to 10 days. The stop-work order may be lifted if and when any remaining back wages and administrative fees have been paid and all related issues have been resolved.
For more information on worker benefits and protections, please visit myworkrights.nj.gov.