South Carolina peach grower took cash from farmworkers’ pay for political donations, feds say

Titan Farms, a South Carolina corporate that provides contemporary and frozen vegatables and fruits to primary U.S. shops, illegally deducted political contributions and cleansing charges from greater than 1,300 seasonal international employees, in keeping with federal officers.

Billed as the biggest peach grower at the East Coast, Titan violated H-2A program laws by means of asking for employees make political contributions that introduced their pay under the desired $11.13 hour charge; and by means of charging employees a cleansing charge for employer-provided housing, the U.S. Division of Exertions discovered. 

Titan used to be required to pay $338,446 to at least one,341 employees, with greater than $200,000 disbursed to about part of the ones affected. The company is now looking for the rest 617 employees jointly owed $132,308, it mentioned. 

“We’re asking the general public to help us in finding the ones employees owed wages,” Jamie Benefiel, the DOL’s salary and hour department district Director in Columbia, South Carolina, mentioned in a information unencumber.

“Employers have a elementary duty to be sure that all employees who come legally to the U.S. beneath the H-2A program are paid somewhat,” Benefiel mentioned. “Deductions from employees’ wages are forbidden until they’re explicitly incorporated within the contract.”

“We’re asking the general public to help us in finding the ones employees owed wages,” Benefiel added.

A significant provider of greens and peaches, the 6,200-acres operations in Ridge Springs, South Carolina, grows and ships its produce to just about two dozen grocery chains national, together with Aldi, Costco, Kroger, Publix and Walmart. 

Titan didn’t straight away reply to requests for remark. 

“Titan Farms is proud to take part within the H-2A brief seasonal employee program. East of the employees enters the US with a passport and visa to paintings at Titan Farms,” in accordance to the corporate’s website online. “The farm is happy with every member of its staff and realizes the affect those employees have at the total luck of Titan Farms.” 

Titan used to be additionally fined $2,850 in civil consequences for violations together with letting employees trip in unsafe automobiles.