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South Carolina grower took farmworkers’ pay for political donations
A South Carolina-based peach grower has been accused of illegally deducting funds from the paychecks of foreign farmworkers to make political contributions, according to federal officials.
Titan Farms, a 6,200-acre operation in Ridge Springs, allegedly violated rules set by the H-2A program by requesting workers contribute to political causes and charging them for cleaning fees related to employer-provided housing. The deductions resulted in wages being paid below the required rate of $11.13 per hour.
The US Department of Labor has found that Titan Farms failed to pay $338,446 to 1,341 farmworkers, with over $200,000 going to approximately half of those affected. The agency is now seeking assistance from the public to locate the remaining 617 workers owed a collective $132,308.
According to the department’s investigation, the company engaged in prohibited deductions from workers’ wages, which are only permitted if explicitly included in the contract. Titan Farms has been fined $2,850 in civil penalties for violations including allowing workers to travel in unsafe vehicles.
The company, which grows and ships produce to nearly two dozen major retailers across the nation, claims on its website that it is proud to participate in the H-2A temporary seasonal worker program and values each member of its workforce.
Source: www.cbsnews.com
