(a) The Legislature finds and declares that persons who are primarily engaged in sewing or assembly of garments for other persons engaged in garment manufacturing frequently close down their sewing shops to avoid paying their employees’ wages and subsequently reopen under the conditions described in subdivision (b), and are more likely to do so than are other types of persons engaged in garment manufacturing.
(b) A successor to any employer that is primarily engaged in sewing or assembly of garments for other persons engaged in the business of garment manufacturing, as defined by subdivision (b) of Section 2671, that owes wages to the predecessor’s former employee or employees is liable for those wages if the successor meets any of the following criteria:
(1) Uses substantially the same facilities or work force to produce substantially the same products for substantially the same type of customers as the predecessor employer.
(2) Shares in the ownership, management, control of labor relations, or interrelations of business operations with the predecessor employer.
(3) Has in its employ in a managerial capacity any person who directly or indirectly controlled the wages, hours, or working conditions of the affected employees of the predecessor employer.
(4) Is an immediate family member of any owner, partner, officer, or director of the predecessor employer or of any person who had a financial interest in the predecessor employer.
This section does not impose liability upon a successor for the guarantee of unpaid minimum wages and overtime compensation set forth in subdivision (a) or (b) of Section 2673.1.
(Added by Stats. 1999, Ch. 554, Sec. 7. Effective January 1, 2000.)