In July 2024, it was reported that South and Central American workers in the USA had launched wage theft claims against six construction companies: Ceprine Construction, KEP Construction, G&B Construction NY Corp., Francisco Giron, Franklin Mauricio Chuquiguanga and SK Group Construction. The workers were helped by the advocacy group Workers Justice Project, which protested outside the companies’ offices. The worker were allegedly owed USD 114,000.

Calls made by journalists to KEP Construction, G&B Construction NY Corp., Francisco Giron LLC and Franklin Mauricio Chuquiguanga were not returned, and Ceprine Construction did not respond to questions about the allegations. SK Group Construction said the wage theft claims were untrue.

The claims come amid new guidelines which enable workers with wage theft claims to request ‘deferred action’, thus allowing them to remain in the country while their claims are investigated.

In January 2025, it was reported that KEP Construction had been indicted on charges that it stole USD 67,000 in wages to the migrant workers.