US Department of Labor investigations of labour contractors, vineyard yield USD231k in penalties, recover USD129k in back wages for 353 agricultural workers
Summary
Date Reported: 1 Jun 2023
Location: United States of America
Companies
Nextcrop - Labour Supplier , Pebble Ridge Vineyards & Vine Estates - EmployerAffected
Total individuals affected: 105
Workers: ( Number unknown - Location unknown , Agriculture & livestock , Gender not reported ) , Children: ( 1 - Location unknown , Agriculture & livestock , Gender not reported )Issues
Injuries , Child labour , Recruitment Fees , Occupational Health & Safety , Wage TheftResponse
Response sought: No
Action taken: Next Crop was fined USD99,067 and Pebble Ridge was fined USD66,282 in penalties.
Source type: Government publication
Summary
Date Reported: 1 Jun 2023
Location: United States of America
Companies
Noble Vineyards Management - Labour SupplierAffected
Total individuals affected: 148
Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - Location unknown , Agriculture & livestock , Gender not reported , Documented migrants ) , Workers: ( Number unknown - United States of America , Agriculture & livestock , Gender not reported )Issues
Wage Theft , Intimidation , Recruitment Fees , Dismissal , Fair & Equal Wages , Occupational Health & SafetyResponse
Response sought: No
Action taken: Noble Vineyards was fined USD66,530 in penalties.
Source type: Government publication
... To combat violations that deny workers their hard-earned wages or jeopardize their safety, the U.S. Department of Labor has stepped up its outreach and enforcement efforts in the Golden State.
Recent investigations of two farm labor contractors, Next Crop Inc. of Los Baños and Noble Vineyards Management Inc. of Ukiah, and grower Pebble Ridge Vineyards & Vine Estates LLC in Paicines by the department’s Wage and Hour Division collectively found employers failed to safely transport agricultural workers to and from the fields, violated numerous requirements of the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act and the H-2A temporary agricultural program and allowed a 14-year-old child to work during school hours illegally.
The investigations led the division to assess more than $231,881 in civil money penalties and to recover $129,081 in back wages for 353 agricultural workers...