§ 20-1507 Administrative enforcement.

   a.   The commissioner shall enforce the provisions of this chapter.

   b.   1.   Any person alleging a violation of this chapter may file a complaint with the department within two years of the date the person knew or should have known of the alleged violation.

      2.   Upon receiving such a complaint, the department shall investigate it.

      3.   The department may open an investigation on its own initiative.

      4.   A person or entity under investigation shall, in accordance with applicable law, provide the department with information or evidence that the department requests pursuant to the investigation. The department may attempt to resolve an investigation concerning a violation of this chapter through any action authorized by chapter 64 of the charter.

      5.   The department shall keep the identity of any complainant confidential unless disclosure is necessary to resolve the investigation or is otherwise required by law. The department shall, to the extent practicable, notify such complainant that the department will be disclosing the complainant's identity before such disclosure.

   c.   The commissioner may promulgate rules necessary and appropriate to the administration of this chapter.

(L.L. 2021/114, 10/24/2021, eff. 4/22/2022)

§ 20-1508 Remedies for workers.

   a.   For violations of their rights under this chapter, a food delivery worker shall be entitled to the following relief:

      1.   all compensatory damages and other relief required to make the worker or former worker whole;

      2.   an order directing compliance with the requirements set forth in this chapter; and

      3.   for each violation of:

         (a)   section 20-1504,

            (1)   $500 for each violation not involving denial of future work opportunities;

            (2)   $2,500 for each violation involving denial of future work opportunities; and

            (3)   any equitable relief appropriate under the circumstances, including but not limited to payment of any lost earnings resulting from such retaliation.

         (b)   section 20-1521, $200;

         (c)   section 20-1522, including any minimum payment established by rule pursuant to section 20-1522, three times the amount of any payment that should have been made and was not timely made;

         (d)   section 20-1523, $200; and

         (e)   section 20-1524, $200.

   b.   The relief authorized by this section shall be imposed on a per worker and per instance basis for each violation.

(L.L. 2021/114, 10/24/2021, eff. 4/22/2022)

§ 20-1509 Civil penalties.

   a.   For each violation of this chapter, a third-party food delivery service or third-party courier service is liable for a penalty of $500 for the first violation and, for subsequent violations that occur within two years of any previous violation of this chapter, up to $750 for the second violation and up to $1,000 for each succeeding violation.

   b.   The penalties imposed pursuant to this section shall be imposed on a per worker and per instance basis for each violation.

(L.L. 2021/114, 10/24/2021, eff. 4/22/2022)

§ 20-1510 Enforcement by the corporation counsel.

The corporation counsel or such other persons designated by the corporation counsel on behalf of the department may initiate in any court of competent jurisdiction any action or proceeding that may be appropriate or necessary for correction of any violation issued pursuant to sections 20-1507 through 20-1509, including actions to secure permanent injunctions, enjoining any acts or practices that constitute such violation, mandating compliance with the provisions of this chapter, or such other relief as may be appropriate.

(L.L. 2021/114, 10/24/2021, eff. 4/22/2022)