An investigation by the Dept. of Labor found that Jorgensen Management "intentionally violated" provisions in the guest worker program.
BANCROFT, Idaho — The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) fined a potato farm in Bancroft $25,000 after its investigation found the farm had shortchanged their agricultural workers.
Jorgensen Management Inc., a potato farm in Bancroft, intentionally violated the H-2A provision of the guest worker program, according to an investigation by the U.S. DOL.
"By threatening and shortchanging some of the lowest-paid workers in our nation, Jorgensen Management showed a willful disregard for the law. They created a toxic workplace and victimized these vulnerable workers," Wage and Hour District Director, Carrie Aguilar, said in Portland, Oregon.
The investigation revealed that Jorgensen Management failed to pay the required rates to 69 domestic workers they had hired, alongside H-2A visa workers. The company additionally failed to provide workers with at least three-quarters of the work hours that had been guaranteed in their contracts and did not reimburse workers for their transportation costs.
After the investigation, the department recovered $159,256 in unpaid wages and assessed $25,430 in civil money penalties.
Not only were wages shortchanged, but the company also exposed agricultural workers to substandard living conditions while making threats to further intimidate and exploit their workforce, according to the department's Wage and Hour Division...
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