§ 28-12-19 Liability to employee for substandard wages. – Any employer who pays any employee less than the applicable wage rate to which the employee is entitled under or by virtue of this chapter shall be liable to the affected employee for the full amount of the wage rate, less any amount actually paid to the employee by the employer, and for costs and the reasonable attorney's fees that may be allowed by the court. Any agreement between the employee and the employer to work for less than the wage rate shall be no defense to the action.