U.S. berry farms fined for hiring 6-year-olds as workers

[Newsjock]

Source: Associated Press

PORTLAND, ORE. — Three strawberry farms were fined a total of US$73,000 for employing children as young as 6 as pickers, the U.S. Labor Department said Friday.

A child-labor investigation in June discovered nine underage workers at farms in the Washington towns of Woodland and Ridgefield. Investigators found several violations of labour law, including failing to maintain proof-of-age records and pay minimum wage among others.

The farmers were Marty Peterson from Columbia Fruit in Woodland; George Hoffman of George Hoffman Farms and Lee Nguyen of Berry Good Farms of Ridgefield.

... A farmworker advocate said child labour is a recurring problem in farms in southwest Washington. Many underpay their workers, leading families to bring their children to help harvest.

Read more: http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/1034994--u-s-berry-farms-fined-for-hiring-6-year-olds-as-workers?bn=1