A U.S. Department of Labor judge recently ordered a Frostproof, Fla., farm labor contractor to pay nearly $250,000 in owed back wages to employees and civil penalties.
According to a March 10 news release, Jose M. Gracia Harvesting Inc. was found to have violated multiple H-2A violations on various contracts. The contractor was found to have shortchanged employees out of back pay and neglected to provide safe and sanitary work conditions. H-2A refers to the temporary agricultural workers visa program.
“Farmworkers help put food on tables in homes and restaurants across the U.S. and the U.S. Department of Labor vigorously protects the rights of these essential workers, including those employed as part the H-2A guest worker program,” Southeast Regional Administrator Juan Coria in Atlanta said. “When an employer exploits or mistreats workers, as found in this federal investigation, the Wage and Hour Division holds the employer accountable.”
The contractor will be required to pay $69,372 in back wages to 152 workers, in addition to paying $180,000 in civil penalties.
Jose M. Gracia Harvesting Inc. also reportedly failed to provide safe and sanitary housing standards for 80 employees.
The contractor offers its services to Melon 1, one of the nation’s largest melon distributors.
