Swahili Village
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The US Department of Labor (DOL) has taken action against Kenyan-owned Swahili Village Bar and Grill in Newark for violating the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
The popular downtown restaurant failed to pay overtime wages to 84 employees, including servers, cooks, and bussers, who worked more than 40 hours per week between May 2022 and June 2023. The DOL's investigation uncovered that the restaurant owes $62,335 in overtime wages and an equal amount in liquidated damages to the affected workers. Additionally, Swahili Village Bar and Grill faces $44,100 in civil penalties for these willful violations. Wage and Hour DOL District Director Paula Ruffin emphasizes the importance of holding employers accountable, noting that restaurant workers are particularly vulnerable to wage shortages.
Swahili Village Bar and Grill, which opened its Newark location in 2022 with a ceremony attended by Mayor Ras J. Baraka, is known for its East African cuisine. The restaurant is situated across from the New Jersey Performing Arts Center and has two other locations in Maryland and Washington, D.C. This incident is not isolated, as Swahili Village recently faced similar issues at its Washington, D.C. location. Just a month prior, the restaurant agreed to pay over $500,000 to resolve a wage theft lawsuit filed by the D.C. Attorney General. The lawsuit alleged systematic wage and tip theft from 72 workers since the location's opening in 2020.
The FLSA mandates that employees receive at least the federal minimum wage and overtime pay at one and a half times their regular rate for hours worked beyond 40 in a workweek. Despite these clear regulations, violations persist in the industry. To address these issues, the DOL offers various resources to assist both workers and employers. The Workers Owed Wages search tool allows employees to check if they are owed back wages collected by the division. Additionally, the Wage and Hour Division provides a toll-free number for assistance and inquiries.
The Swahili Village has attracted a distinguished clientele including Kenyan President William Ruto and his predecessor, Uhuru Kenyatta. Last year, the restaurant's Kenyan founder Kevin Onyona and Chief Operating Officer Emad Shoeb agreed to a settlement requiring the implementation of compliant wage practices and submission of regular reports to the attorney-general for three years. Notwithstanding these legal setbacks, Swahili Village has maintained its reputation as a favoured dining spot for high-profile figures, including US Secretary of State Antony John Blinken and Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga.
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"Corrupt through and Through". Ufisadi ndani Ndani. Easy come; Easy go!!!
I did say it here, the DC case was just the beginning..................
The brother will learn the hard way. You do not joke with wages in the USA. The history of slavery is long gone. If you work more than 5 hours breaks is a must.
That name too needs to be changed to something else I guess.Even the venue has nothing depicting a Swahili culture. It is all bricks and walls like any other North American restaurant.
Bure kabisa for conning fellow Kenyans.
This is not a case of ignorance where the employer needs to be educated.No. This thievery was a flagrant,and deliberate breach of the labor laws with the intent to steal.Obviously the hope was to fly under the radar long enough to enrich themselves before someone complained.Unfortunately for the employer,and fortunately for the cheated employees,the law stepped in, in a timely manner.
Since this story aired,as well as coming to print,many Kenyans have had diverse views on the matter.Mostly negative,and accusatory in nature.But one thing they all agree on is that , had this business been conducted in Kenya,the owner would most likely have gotten off Scott free.And that's a sad documentary.
I heard some Samburu tribes(wo)men complaining that judiciary is against their tribe after sentencing the former thug governor,Lenolkolol.I felt sorry to crying women as I learnt from a journalist(who knows the governor well)that the convict did not even know them.According to the journalist the few who shared the loot with him have abandoned him to carry his own cross.I have for years witnessed this nonsense with my tribesmen who believe that Mûigai & Wanjîgî looted trillions for AGîkûyû.To me the two gangsters plus Ngîna Mûhûhû should be hanged to the nearest tree or just FACE THE FIRING SQUAD.
You think this is Kenya? Try to run business the Kenya way in a civilized country it’s gonna cost you
@Max I remember his defenders slinging words like wivu at you, calling his aggrieved employees parasites, talking about his vision , calling his detractors jealous, talking about the size of his house and implying we should support him because he was Kenyan. There was bitterness that these employees dared to complain. First, he settled with the District, and now has been fined by the federal government, Maryland might be next. I have to conclude that this man is an actual crook and the chickens are coming home to roost.
@ Mundumugo, yes you remember correctly. I was severely attack by his supporters for pointing out that the employer was in violation of breaching labor laws... There was one girl in particular that was really vitriolic . I forgot her name.Rumor was that she was being banged by the owner...
I am so surprised that a well established business like Swahili Village, that should have a legal person onboard has been breaking simple rules like labor laws. If they are breaking labor laws, what other US laws are they breaking? I hope they are aware of worker’s compensation laws, otherwise that would come to bite them soon as well. They should fire their current legal person and hire someone competent. I am an expert in occupational safety $ health regulations. Reach out to me if you need assistance to ensure you are not violating worker’s comp laws.
Looks like crooks run this restaurant. I was in DC recently and I wanted to go in there to see the thieves! Unfortunately, the DC hustle of parking discouraged me from hustling just to visit them thieves with my own lying eyes 👀
Mwakilishi Small Balls Boys,wivu tupu the guy is trying to build himself. Everyone cheats to get to the next level so stop with all your nonsense and jealous Kevin is a good Guy.
At least you acknowledge that he was cheating,"because every one cheats."- Fortunately some of use do not measure the vastness of our integrity by weighing our balls on a scale.By the way small is relative.If you have a 'sinkhole 'down there,any balls would be small. Trust me.
Anyway what is the female version of "mwakilishi Small Balls Boys" because I know there are females who share the same traits and behavior...I guess Mwakilishi Small Ovaries Girls should stop wivu tupu-right?. I get it now.
finally, I hope you are old and wise enough to understand that pointing out acrime does not mean one is evil,or has wivu.That's part of solving a crime- It's acivic duty.
So this Kevin is a good guy who happens to be a thief stealing from his employees. Steal from the poor to give to himself. Is that a Kenya version of Robin Hood? Something tells me those he exploited and the different governments finding him guilty of theft disagree.
I think it's the other way. - athief who is a good guy.Any what do you expect from the beneficiary of Kevin's crimes...
Hi people I am looking for info on one a mrjohn mwangi gachie. I have found him to be a cancer in our az society. Please reach out to me if you have been his victim of fraud.thanks
Comrades,
Isn't this the norm with Kenyans and Nigerians?