EIGHTY-TWO THAI FARM WORKERS found to have been exploited on Ka`u and other farms in Hawai`i have been awarded $150,000 each by U.S. District Judge Leslie Kobayashi. The awards follow a federal lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed in 2011against Global Horizons and six Hawai`i farms, including MacFarms of Hawai`i, which draws a majority of its local workers from Ka`u to its macadamia orchards just north of the Ka`u and South Kona district borders. The lawsuit focused on working and living conditions, including the accusation that 20 MacFarms workers hired by Global Horizons were crowded into a house in Na`alehu that was ill-equipped for even five persons. According to allegations, the accommodations “lacked a fully functioning toilet, toilet paper and hot water and had a buckling kitchen floor.” Five farms settled for a total of $3.6 million. According to a story by Jennifer Sinco Kelleher in West Hawai`i Today, Mordechai Orian, former president of Global Horizons, continued to deny the workers were mistreated. “We paid those guys to the last penny they worked for,” he said. “We tried to keep legal farming in the United States alive, and this is the thanks we get.” Orian said the company is no longer in business and cannot pay the awards. “We will fight this ridiculous decision,” he said, and called the awards “insane.” Anna Park, EEOC trial attorney in Los Angeles, said the agency is pleased, but the next challenge will be getting money from Global Horizons, she said. Awards come from $3.6 million in settlements and $8.7 million Global Horizons is liable for. “The million dollar question is whether they’ll ever see any of it,” said Clare Hanusz, an attorney who represents several of the workers with immigration issues. “I’d be surprised if there really was no money, though. I think it’s very carefully hidden.” According to the story, Global Horizons plans to appeal. See westhawaiitoday.
Posted on: Wed, 24 Dec 2014 08:03:21 +0000
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