A Kentucky hemp and tobacco farm has been sanctioned by federal authorities for shortchanging temporary agricultural workers.
Hemp farmer David Hunt of Campbellsville has agreed to pay more than $36,000 in fines and back pay to the U.S. Department of Labor. Federal authorities say the Hunt Farm abused the H-2A temporary agricultural workers program.
According to the Department of Labor, Hunt failed to meet legal requirements including:
- Paying prevailing wages.
- Offering at least three-fourths the hours promised in the workers’ contracts.
- Reimbursing workers for travel expenses they incurred returning to their home countries.
Hunt was ordered to pay $25,905 in back wages to 46 workers to resolve the violations. Hunt is also required to pay a $13,281 civil penalty and is banned from participation in the H-2A program for three years.
