South Carolina Peach Grower Under Fire for Illegally Deducting Workers' Pay for Political Donations

Friday, 10 January 2025, 20:09

South Carolina peach grower Titan Farms faces allegations of unlawfully deducting political contributions from workers' pay. This violation involved more than 1,300 seasonal foreign workers, dropping their wages below the legal minimum. The U.S. Department of Labor found that Titan Farms charged illegal fees, resulting in required reimbursements totaling $338,446. Efforts are ongoing to locate all affected workers.

Cbsnews — South Carolina Peach Grower Under Fire for Illegally Deducting Workers' Pay for Political Donations

South Carolina Peach Grower Faces Federal Charges

South Carolina peach grower Titan Farms is under scrutiny after federal authorities revealed that the company deducted funds for political donations from workers’ salaries. This situation impacted over 1,300 seasonal foreign workers, leading to pay falling below the mandated threshold of $11.13 per hour.

Violations of the H-2A Program

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Titan Farms violated H-2A program regulations by requiring workers to contribute to political causes while also charging them cleaning fees for employer-provided housing. This practice is illegal and has raised significant legal concerns.

Impact on 1,341 workers
Total owed: $338,446
Efforts to locate unpaid workers ongoing

Seeking Justice for Affected Workers

The Department of Labor is working diligently to ensure all workers are compensated, with about half of the impacted group already receiving funds exceeding $200,000. Currently, 617 workers are still owed a combined total of $132,308.

This article was prepared using information from open sources in accordance with the principles of Ethical Policy. The editorial team is not responsible for absolute accuracy, as it relies on data from the sources referenced.