Sec. 31-59. Investigation.

      Sec. 31-59. Investigation. The commissioner or any authorized representative of the commissioner shall have authority: (a) To investigate and ascertain the wages of persons employed in any occupation in the state; (b) to enter the place of business or employment of any employer of persons in any occupation for the purpose of examining and inspecting any and all books, registers, payrolls and other records of any such employer that in any way appertain to or have a bearing upon the question of wages of any such persons and for the purpose of ascertaining whether the provisions of this part and the orders of the commissioner have been and are being complied with; and (c) to require from such employer full and correct statements in writing, when the commissioner or any authorized representative of the commissioner deems necessary, of the wages paid to all persons in his employment. The commissioner may, on his own motion, and shall, on the petition of fifty or more residents of the state, cause an investigation to be made of the wages being paid to persons in any occupation to ascertain whether any substantial number of persons in such occupation is receiving less than a fair wage. If the commissioner is of the opinion that any substantial number of persons in any occupation or occupations is receiving less than a fair wage, he shall appoint a wage board as provided in section 31-61 to report upon the establishment of minimum fair wage rates of not less than the minimum fair wage as defined in section 31-58 for such persons in such occupation or occupations.

      (1949 Rev., S. 3787; 1951, S. 2026d; 1957, P.A. 435, S. 3; 1959, P.A. 683, S. 2.)

      History: 1959 act removed references to establishment of minimum wage for restaurant, hotel, inn and cabin employees and to $1.00 minimum wage, substituting wage as defined in Sec. 31-58.

      See Sec. 31-22 re commissioner's duties with respect to enforcement of regulations and reporting of violations.

      Cited. 140 C. 73. Cited. 223 C. 573.