Mississippi Fish Farm Pays $30,963 in Back Wages After U.S. Department of Labor Finds H-2A Visa Program Violations

SCHLATER, MS – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Tackett Fish Farms LLC – based in Schlater, Mississippi – has paid $30,963 in back wages to 38 employees for violating the labor provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act’s H-2A visa program. 

WHD determined that the fish farm failed to reimburse H-2A workers for expenses they incurred while traveling to the employer’s location from their home countries, as required by law. WHD also found the employer failed to include some required information on employees’ earning statements.

“Agricultural employers that bring in temporary guest workers on H-2A visas must comply with all the program’s requirements,” said Wage and Hour Division Regional Administrator Juan Coria, in Atlanta, Georgia. “Our work continues to safeguard American jobs and hold employers that violate the law accountable. We offer a wealth of compliance information readily available to assist employers and farm labor contractors in understanding their obligations under the law.”

For more information about the H-2A and other laws enforced by the Wage and Hour Division, contact the Division’s toll-free helpline at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243). Information is also available at www.dol.gov/agencies/whd.

WHD’s mission is to promote and achieve compliance with labor standards to protect and enhance the welfare of the nation’s workforce. WHD enforces federal minimum wage, overtime pay, recordkeeping and child labor requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act. WHD also enforces the paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave provisions of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act, the Employee Polygraph Protection Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, wage garnishment provisions of the Consumer Credit Protection Act, and a number of employment standards and worker protections as provided in several immigration related statutes. Additionally, WHD administers and enforces the prevailing wage requirements of the Davis-Bacon Act and the Service Contract Act and other statutes applicable to federal contracts for construction and for the provision of goods and services.

The mission of the Department of Labor is to foster, promote and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers and retirees of the United States; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for profitable employment; and assure work-related benefits and rights.