In the past year, the problem of wage theft inspired a book by Chicagoan Kim Bobo and, more recently, garnered the attention of the U.S. Labor Secretary. The Illinois Labor Department is doing all it can to protect workers, too. But a new and unprecedented study (PDF) of the low-wage labor market in Cook County highlights just how much abuse local workers face each and every day.

The comprehensive survey, conducted by Center for Urban Economic Development of the University of Illinois-Chicago, updates and localizes a study conducted last year of workers in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago. Having collected data on 1,140 workers from Cook County (which boasts a low-wage workforce of 310,205), the study found that 47 percent toil in offices, restaurants, or work sites where core employment laws are routinely ignored or exploited.The workers surveyed made $322 per week on average, but lost an average of $50 due to these forms of theft. Add that up across the region and you're talking about $7 million that isn't making its way into workers wallets (or the local economy.)

The Illinois Department of Labor tells WBEZ that they were able to recover $3.1 million in unpaid wages and overtime payments last year. While that figure is encouraging, it represents just a tiny step when compared to the rampant violations the UIC researchers estimate are taking place. And due to the budget crisis, the Department of Labor's budget will likely be sliced next year, making enforcement even more difficult. Indeed, Gov. Pat Quinn's budget proposal (PDF) trims $487,100 from the department -- equivalent to about 6 percent of its total operating fund. (please click on link to read full story)