New Jersey Administrative Code
Title 12 - LABOR AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
Chapter 55 - WAGE PAYMENTS
Subchapter 1 - GENERAL PROVISIONS; VIOLATIONS; FEES AND PENALTIES; HEARINGS
Section 12:55-1.3 - Powers of the Commissioner

(a) The Commissioner shall enforce and administer the provisions of the Act and the Commissioner or his or her authorized representatives are empowered to investigate charges of violations of the Act.

(b) The Commissioner or his or her authorized representatives are empowered to enter and inspect such places, question such employees and investigate such facts, conditions or matters as they may deem appropriate to determine whether any person has violated any provision of the Act or this chapter or which may aid in the enforcement of the provisions of the Act or this chapter.

(c) The Commissioner or his or her authorized representatives shall have power to administer oaths and examine witnesses under oath, issue subpoenas, compel the attendance of witnesses, and the production of papers, books, accounts, records, payrolls, documents, and testimony, and to take depositions and affidavits in any proceeding before the Commissioner.

(d) If a person fails to comply with any subpoena lawfully issued, or on the refusal of any witness to testify to any matter regarding which he or she may be lawfully interrogated, it shall be the duty of the Superior Court, on application by the Commissioner, to compel obedience by proceedings for contempt, as in the case of disobedience of the requirements of a subpoena issued from such court or a refusal to testify therein.

(e) The Commissioner is authorized to supervise the payment of amounts due to employees pursuant to Article 1 of chapter 11 of Title 34 of the Revised Statutes, and the employer may be required to make these payments to the Commissioner to be held in a special account in trust for the employees, and paid on order of the Commissioner directly to the employee or employees affected. The employer shall also pay the Commissioner an administrative fee equal to not less than 10 percent or more than 25 percent of any payment made to the Commissioner pursuant to this section. The amount of the administrative fee is specified in 12:55-1.5. The fee shall be applied to enforcement and administration costs of the Division of Workplace Standards in the Department of Labor.