Department of Labor says investigation recovers $45K in back wages from fruit company
The Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division has found the Timberville, Va.-based Mt. Clifton Fruit Co. LLC violated multiple requirements of the H-2A agricultural worker program.
The company grows and ships apples, according to a news release from the Department of Labor.
The agency said the company failed to:ZCompensate 55 workers, 50 of whom came from Mexico, for all hours worked.
- Comply with the requirements of the agricultural job order.
- Pay the hourly adverse effect wage rates of $13.15 in 2021, $14.16 in 2022 and $14.91 in 2023.
- Comply with safety and health requirements for housing and transporting H-2A workers.
- Request a preoccupancy inspection of housing in a timely way.
- Comply with other applicable federal, state and local employment-related laws and regulations.
According to the release, $45,384 in back wages were recovered and civil penalties of $8,998 were assessed to the company. Fifty-five workers were affected, including 50 H-2A workers and five other workers.
“Our investigation found the Mt. Clifton Fruit Company denied dozens of agricultural workers, many of whom traveled to the U.S. at the company’s request, safe housing and transportation, and their legally earned wages,” Wage and Hour Division District Director Roberto Melendez said in the release. “In addition to recovering back wages, we assessed penalties for these deliberate violations.”
