In the middle of one of the busiest shopping weeks of the year, several of the city's poultry markets have been contending with fines imposed by the state government, which accuses the markets of not paying their employees their legal salaries.

Seven poultry markets in Corona, Sunset Park, Upper Manhattan and other neighborhoods have been cited by the state's Labor Department, which alleges that the businesses owe their employees thousands of dollars in wages.

For example, at Al-Noor Poultry Market, the employees have been working six days a week, 10 hours a day for an average wage of $400 a week, with no overtime pay, and without the employer providing proof of payment, according to the Labor Department. The company owes $63,000 to five of its employees, said the agency, which also levied penalties that bring the total owed by the business to $134,000.

Like other poultry markets, Al-Noor – where most of the workers are Mexicans – responded that the accusations are false.

“These boys have been working for me for five years. We're a family; I know their kids,” said a man yesterday who identified himself as the manager of Al-Noor. He said that the lowest-paid worker at his business makes $9 an hour, that any overtime worked is paid, and that he has hired a lawyer to respond to the accusations.

In the north of Manhattan, La Granja markets have also been fined by the Labor Department. The business, which according to financial records has an annual income of over a million dollars, owes $159,000 in unpaid wages and fines, according to the Department. The owner of the business was not available for comment yesterday.

Other markets cited by the government were Aniqa Halal in Corona, with $156,000 in fines; Vivero 34 Latino in Sunset Park, with $26,000; S &L Poultry in Corona, with $39,000; and Halal Live Poultry, also in Corona, with $12,000.

All these cases are now in the process of negotiation, said the Department, adding that it is possible other markets would also face penalties in the near future.