Cuomo Makes Worker Exploitation Task Force Permanent

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork)-- Governor Andrew Cuomo said that his Task Force To Combat Worker Exploitation is going to do more to make car washes and nail salons safer for their mostly immigrant workers. 

More than $4 million in unpaid wages has been returned to over 7,500 employees since the task force was formed a year ago, according to Cuomo, WCBS 880's Kelly Waldron reported.

He is making the panel a permanent fixture in the city. He said immigrants are the most vulnerable to abuse.

"We want to protect them. We want to reach out to them. We want to educate them. We want to get them health care," Cuomo said.

There have been more than 200 cases of retaliation against workers and of August 1, new ventilation requirements take effect in nail salons.