Isn't it against the law to not pay someone for work?

I have a question and it goes like this.

My friend works off the books at a lounge The owner claims that the workers will only get paid 25 bux a day. for waitressing. But they pay is only for mon tues wends...thurs fri sat and sun you do not get paid the 25 dollars since tips are good. and every other sunday you would get paid 25 for working.

My friend was hired for thurs fri sat and sunday. and he refuse to pay her.

Isn't it against the law to make someone work for free and not pay them?
I know its against the law for working off thebooks as well but isnt she entiled to get paid still? please respond I would love to hear what every one has to say.. and if you have facts to your answers please send me the link so I can go over it as well. =) thank you so much. if you can please email me Fun mail me

No one can help her but her. That's slave labor. If she really wants to do something about her situation I would suggest that she report her employer to the labor board and they will make her employer employ legally.

Tell her to report her employer to the labor board and they'll take it from there.

The employer sounds really dodgy - employees should get paid for each day they work, regardless of whether tips are good or not. I take it your friend didn't sign a contract of any kind - in which case, it will be very hard to prove that she actually works there under the eyes of the law. If, by some miracle she did, and it says that she will get paid $25 for each hour she works, then she can take the employer to court to get her money. But working off the books means she's in a vulnerable place when things like this happen, with little in the way of options. But certainly any employee who does work there legitimately (I.e. on the books) should take him to court over not being paid on certain days (unless thats in their contract they signed).