In February 2025, reports emerged of migrant worker abuse at Lamell Lumber in Vermont, USA. The company reportedly fired workers who demanded higher wages and protested their treatment by the company. The owner had promised higher wages in future but workers had not had a wage increase in two years; the company refused to meet with workers to discuss their concerns. Besides wage concerns, the company allegedly restricted workers from receiving guests, and did not respect workers’ privacy.

The company reportedly hired 10 of the workers through contractor Agri-Placement Services which specialises in hiring workers for dairies. Lamell declined to comment on the allegations for media. The Resource Centre invited Agri-Placement Services to respond to the allegations of abuse against migrants it placed in work, to clarify the relationship it has with Lamell Lumber and to disclose what due diligence it had undertaken on conditions for workers at the company prior to placing them to work there; the response received from Agri-Placement Services can be read in full below. The company responded to each of the allegations and provided information regarding the due diligence it undertakes prior to placing workers with clients.