The U.S. Department of Labor has recovered nearly $270,000 in back wages and damages for 76 onion farm laborers, following an investigation that revealed an Idaho business had provided substandard housing and failed to pay overtime wages.
Onion Packer To Pay $270K In OT Wages : Investigation Findings
Ontario Partners LLC, an onion packer and processor based in Payette, Idaho, was found to have several violations. The investigation revealed that the farm employed agricultural workers on temporary H-2A visas who were not listed on the farm’s H-2A program application. Additionally, the farm did not pay these workers time-and-a-half rates for overtime hours worked beyond the 40-hour workweek. The total amount assessed for these violations was $268,417.
Housing and Wage Violations
The investigation also uncovered that Ontario Partners housed workers in inadequate conditions, with units filled with overflowing trash, mold, and non-functional smoke detectors. Moreover, the company was found to have violated the Fair Labor Standards Act and the visa program by not providing safe transportation and failing to reimburse transportation costs.
Onion Packer To Pay $270K In OT Wages : Penalties and Statements
In addition to the back wages and damages, the company was assessed over $44,000 in penalties for these violations. Katherine Walum, a district director at the DOL’s wage-and-hour division, emphasized the importance of protecting farm workers’ rights, regardless of their nationality. “Farm workers provide essential labor that helps feed millions of Americans and have rights we will vigorously protect,” Walum stated. She added that agriculture employers benefiting from the H-2A program must provide safe transportation, fair wages, and clean housing.
Additional Violations
The DOL reported further violations, including H-2A visa workers being paid more than two U.S. workers, failure to reimburse transportation costs, and failure to ensure safe transport to and from work sites. Ontario Partners has not yet responded to requests for comment.
Background on Ontario Partners
Ontario Partners LLC is owned by Partner’s Produce, which was established in 1998. According to their website, Partner’s Produce was founded by George Rodriguez, a son of migrant farm workers who bought a farm near Ontario, Oregon, in 1971 and gradually expanded it. A 2022 job posting by Ontario Partners sought 48 workers for onion and bell pepper farming, listing a 55-hour workweek with a wage of $17.41 per hour.
