Two car washes in Los Angeles County have been ordered to pay more than $1 million in back wages to its employees.

Silver Lake Car Wash Inc. and Catalina Car Wash Inc. will pay $1 million in restitution to its workers who were allegedly deprived of minimum wages, overtime and rest breaks on a routine basis, according to an announcement from the city attorney’s office.

Complaints against the car washes alleged that they paid workers a daily rate below minimum wage, or $4.50 an hour for 10 hours of work. The restitution will be paid to workers who worked at the car washes from January 18, 2014 to June 30, 2018.

The city attorney’s office also said the two car washes falsified payroll records and attempted to tamper with witnesses and secure false testimony in the litigation, including threatening and/or bribing employees.

“Hard-working men and women have the right to decent working conditions, at least a minimum wage and overtime,” City Attorney Mike Feuer said in a statement. “This settlement sends a strong message to employers across our city that we take allegations of wage theft and mistreatment of workers seriously.”

Manufacturing, retail and trade reporter Shwanika Narayan can be reached at [email protected] or 323-556-8351. Follow her on Twitter @shwanika.