California Produce Company Penalized $6M for Violating Farmworker Wage Laws

A California produce company has been penalized with a hefty fine of $6.7 million due to wage violations that impacted over 10,000 farmworkers. This significant settlement was reached by the California Labor Commissioner’s Office (LCO) with Santa Maria-based Alco Harvesting LLC, which operates under the name Bonipak Produce Inc.

The investigation revealed that Alco Harvesting failed to provide essential written notices regarding paid sick leave and COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave to its farmworkers. This lack of communication had serious implications during the early stages of the pandemic, as many workers were unaware of their sick leave entitlements. Consequently, they felt compelled to work while ill, inadvertently increasing the risk of COVID-19 transmission among the workforce.

In a troubling turn of events, reports indicated that some farmworkers suspected of having COVID-19 were quarantined in overcrowded motel rooms provided by the employer. This alarming situation prompted an investigation in 2020, particularly after the LCO received information about a farmworker residing in employer-provided housing who tragically died from COVID-19.

Further investigations uncovered additional labor law violations, including issues related to unpaid transportation time, overtime pay, and minimum wage discrepancies. The LCO has committed to distributing $4.2 million directly to the affected farmworkers, alongside an additional $1.5 million allocated for minimum wage violations and unpaid sick leave. The settlement also includes non-monetary relief measures, such as mandatory postings and notices to H-2A workers regarding their rights to paid sick leave.

Topics
California
Agribusiness

A California produce company has been penalized with a hefty fine of $6.7 million due to wage violations that impacted over 10,000 farmworkers. This significant settlement was reached by the California Labor Commissioner’s Office (LCO) with Santa Maria-based Alco Harvesting LLC, which operates under the name Bonipak Produce Inc.

The investigation revealed that Alco Harvesting failed to provide essential written notices regarding paid sick leave and COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave to its farmworkers. This lack of communication had serious implications during the early stages of the pandemic, as many workers were unaware of their sick leave entitlements. Consequently, they felt compelled to work while ill, inadvertently increasing the risk of COVID-19 transmission among the workforce.

In a troubling turn of events, reports indicated that some farmworkers suspected of having COVID-19 were quarantined in overcrowded motel rooms provided by the employer. This alarming situation prompted an investigation in 2020, particularly after the LCO received information about a farmworker residing in employer-provided housing who tragically died from COVID-19.

Further investigations uncovered additional labor law violations, including issues related to unpaid transportation time, overtime pay, and minimum wage discrepancies. The LCO has committed to distributing $4.2 million directly to the affected farmworkers, alongside an additional $1.5 million allocated for minimum wage violations and unpaid sick leave. The settlement also includes non-monetary relief measures, such as mandatory postings and notices to H-2A workers regarding their rights to paid sick leave.

Topics
California
Agribusiness