Labor officials penalize NJ farm for rejecting Puerto Rican workers in favor of undocumented migrant
Source: latino.foxnews
A New Jersey farmer has been found guilty of snubbing Puerto Ricans who sought to work for him and instead hiring migrant laborers.
Cassaday Farms LLC must pay $175,000 in back wages and fines in a settlement with the U.S. Department of Labor, according to NJ.com.
Labor laws require that employers seeking to import foreign workers through the government program known as H-2A first make an earnest effort to hire Americans. Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens. The 13 Puerto Rican applicants who lost job opportunities to migrants had the skills to do the work, labor officials said.
"By denying qualified U.S. workers employment, Cassaday Farms did what H-2A regulations help prevent," said Charlene Rachor, director of the Wage and Hour Division's Southern New Jersey District Office, according to NJ.com. "This consent finding and order underscores our commitment to hold employers accountable when they attempt to circumvent the law to gain a competitive advantage."
FULL story at link.
Read more: http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2015/01/06/labor-officials-penalize-new-jersey-farm-for-rejecting-puerto-rican-workers-in/
alp227
(31,960 posts)customerserviceguy
(25,183 posts)of how employers of illegal aliens are not just looking for cheap laborers, they want ones that are docile and cannot complain when labor laws are violated. If any immigration reform is to succeed, it must necessarily address this issue. If employers are denied the tax deduction for wages paid to someone who doesn't pass muster with eVerify (or whatever system can register legal workers) then you attack the problem at its source.
We cannot replace a broken immigration system with another broken immigration system.
Arcadiasix
(255 posts)I wish the farmer would be thrown in jail and his property confiscated.
quakerboy
(13,901 posts)So the farm stood to gain $117,130. But when caught, they only lose $57,870
I think that everyone is aware that only a small portion of infractions of any type are caught. By getting away with this once, they cover the potential costs of getting caught twice. There really isnt a financial downside to doing the wrong thing.
The fines for companies breaking labour laws should be double the potential gain, as an absolute minimum. Preferably 10 to 50 times. Not just a slap on the wrist.
Sunlei
(22,651 posts)the migrant workers were H-2A foreign visa workers who travel the USA looking for work.
It is a good thing they started to require the larger users of foreign visa workers to really list the jobs in more public places. That way Americans can find the job ads. Hard work 8am-6pm, plus 1/2 day Sunday optional, 11.00 an hour- 60-66 hour week. Our Parks and Forrest service hires hundreds of foreign visa workers, I can't find the linkedin to see what those 'jobs' pay.
FARM LABORERS Cassaday Farms, LLC, 401 Pine Tavern Rd, Monroeville, NJ, 08343 Plow, harrow, plant, cultivate, fertilize, apply pesticides or herbicides, & harvest. Prune, sucker, stake & tie peppers & tomatoes, including in greenhouse. Operate & maintain, tractors, farm vehicles, irrigation equipment, & other farm machinery. Must be able to lift 75lbs. Must have experience of at least 3 months on a vegetable farm working with tomatoes. Worker must engage in Good Agricultural Practices (GAP). Must be able to prune, sucker, stake, & tie peppers & tomatoes. Including in greenhouse. Temporary employment 5/10/14-12/20/14. $11.06/hr; 60hrs/wk, 6days/wk, Optional 1/2 day Sunday, 8am-6pm, 47 positions available. Employer guarantees employment for at least 3/4 of contract period. Work tools, supplies & equipment are provided by employer & free housing provided to workers who cannot reasonably return their permanent residence at the end of work day. Subsistence expenses & transportation to work-site will be provided or paid by employer upon completion of 50% of work contract or earlier. Apply for job opportunity at nearest state workforce agency office. NJ job order number NJ. Contact 822-1101 for your nearest SWA office.