Any owner, operator, lessee, manager or superintendent of an establishment or industry in which labor is employed within this state, who willfully neglects or refuses to make return or report as and when required pursuant to section 34:1-52 of this title shall be subject to a penalty of fifty dollars for each such failure or delay, to be recovered in an action at law brought by and in the name of the commissioner.
N.J.S. § 34:1-53