SEATTLE – A U.S. Department of Labor investigation that uncovered a farm labor contractor’s already costly failures to protect migrant and seasonal agricultural workers took an unexpected turn when investigators found the same employer had denied 165 farm laborers more than $80,000 in overtime wages for hours spent cleaning the popular Gorge Amphitheater.

Investigators with the department’s Wage and Hour Division found Espinoza Contractor LLC – owned by Guillermo Espinoza – violated the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act when they did not pay 49 workers their wages when due, failed to disclose working conditions to the migrant workers in writing and did not record transportation fees deducted from workers’ pay accurately. Espinoza also transported workers without authorization and failed to ensure drivers who transported workers had required documents. The employer also did not register as farm labor contractor or register the workers as required.

Part of the division’s nationwide enforcement and outreach initiative to protect agricultural workers’ rights, the investigation led the division to assess Espinoza $61,896 in civil penalties.

During its investigation, the division learned Espinoza Contractor LLC was under contract to provide farm laborers to clean the Gorge Amphitheater in George. Investigators determined that the employer failed to pay 165 workers, some who worked up to 90 hours each week, overtime rates for hours over 40 in a workweek, a ...

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