Wage theft is overwhelmingly the majority of all theft in the US. I doubt it’s much different here.

https://www.tcworkerscenter.org/2018/09/wage-theft-vs-other-forms-of-theft-in-the-u-s/

This happens a lot more than people think, and it’s disgusting. Whether it’s businesses stealing tips, not paying OT at appropriate rates, or just shorting hours, there are a ton of employers who think of their staff as an underclass to be taken advantage of.

Penalties need to be significant, and possibly public to make it known that this not acceptable and will be prosecuted.

It’s wild that the article doesn’t have an estimate of the amount of actual wage theft, only claimed wage theft.

That nine million dollars is undoubtedly just the tip of the iceberg.