The U.S. Department of Labor has successfully retrieved close to $270,000 in unpaid wages and damages for 76 laborers working on an onion farm. This came after an investigation which revealed that an Idaho business provided inadequate housing and failed to pay overtime wages.
According to the DOL, Ontario Partners LLC, an onion packing and processing firm in Payette, Idaho, was fined $268,417. The investigation found that the company employed agricultural workers on temporary H-2A visas who were not listed in the farm’s H-2A program application and neglected to pay them the required overtime rates.
Additionally, the company incurred over $44,000 in fines for violating the Fair Labor Standards Act and the visa program regulations.
The Department of Labor uncovered more breaches of the H-2A visa program rules, including paying visa workers more than U.S. employees, neglecting to reimburse transportation costs, and not ensuring safe travel to and from the job location. Additionally, the workers were housed in poor conditions, with problems such as overflowing garbage, mold growth, and broken smoke detectors.
If you’re facing challenges with overtime pay or other workplace rights, reach out to our law firm for a free consultation. Every worker, including those on a visa, deserves fair treatment and pay. Let us help you protect your rights and secure the compensation you earned.