GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A jury has awarded over $500,000 to five Guatemalan men who reported instances of exploitation and inadequate compensation while working under a labor contractor in Michigan, where they were responsible for planting and harvesting fruits and vegetables.
The substantial verdict, delivered last week, includes $450,000 designated as punitive damages against Purpose Point Harvesting, a contractor accused of breaching antitrafficking legislation.
During the trial in U.S. District Court, the men provided testimony in Spanish, which was interpreted for the jury. They recounted their experiences from 2017 to 2019, working long hours and handling crops such as asparagus, apples, and cherries in Oceana and Newaygo counties. At times, the laborers clocked nearly 100 hours per week but were paid for only 60. According to their attorney, Teresa Hendricks, they faced grueling conditions, including late-night shifts where they used headlights to pick asparagus and were forced to sleep on couches.
Hendricks criticized the contractor’s treatment, stating the workers were told that the conditions and pay they received were still better than what they could earn back in Guatemala. “They were incredibly brave to come forward, standing up for their values in an unfamiliar legal environment,” she emphasized.
In defense of Purpose Point Harvesting, attorney Robert Alvarez suggested that other laborers provided contradictory accounts that undermine the men’s claims. He added that the company plans to appeal the jury’s decision, maintaining that the allegations are unfounded.
The five men entered the U.S. through the H-2A program, which permits farms to hire foreign laborers when domestic workers are unavailable. Purpose Point acts as an intermediary, responsible for recruiting and managing payroll for these workers. Notably, the firm’s owner originates from the same region in Guatemala as the laborers, according to Hendricks.
Hendricks noted that it is often challenging for foreign laborers to voice concerns about their working conditions and pay due to fears of deportation or job loss. She recounted a late-night encounter with one of the men in a cornfield, illustrating the risks they face in speaking out against potential injustice.
The case underscores broader issues surrounding labor practices within the agricultural sector, particularly regarding the treatment of migrant workers. As advocates call for reforms, the verdict serves as a crucial reminder of the ongoing challenges these individuals endure in pursuit of better opportunities.
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