Ag James announced that she has recovered nearly $1.13 million in stolen wages for workers at CleanTech, a professional maintenance company that provided cleaning services at facilities on Rikers Island during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. An Office of the Attorney General (OAG) investigation uncovered widespread labor violations including wage theft, failure to provide paid sick leave, illegal kickbacks, and retaliation against workers who complained. As a result of OAG’s investigation, CleanTech will pay $1,029,175 in restitution to approximately 250 impacted workers. 

“Every worker deserves fair pay and should be treated with dignity and respect. At the height of the pandemic, CleanTech refused to provide paid sick leave, denied its workers fair pay, and employed crew chiefs who stole workers’ hard-earned wages by forcing them to pay kickbacks just to keep their jobs and retaliated against workers who complained. I am proud to return these wages to the New Yorkers who rightfully earned them, and my office will always hold companies accountable for their exploitation of vulnerable workers." – AG James

https://ag.ny.gov/press-release/2025/attorney-general-james-recovers-11-million-rikers-island-cleaners-cheated-out