Richland, WA Farm Labor Contractor Fined Over $1M

Last week, the Washington Department of Labor and Industry fined Pacific Agri Services LLC $1.25 million for operating without a license.  L&I said the investigation started in August 2024 and wrapped up this spring.  This is the largest farm labor contractor fine L&I has ever issued.

The state added not only was Pacific Agri Services operating without a license, it had not told nearly 5,000 workers in writing how much they’d be paid, what type of work they’d be doing, when and where they were going, how they would be housed, or how they would be transported.  L&I said without this information, workers are unable to assert their rights, especially foreign workers who may not otherwise know Washington’s workplace standards.

“This company failed to meet its obligations to thousands of workers, leaving them in the dark about crucial information related to their employment,” said Bryan Templeton, manager of L&I’s Employment Standards Program.

There are more than 250 licensed farm labor contractors in the state providing labor for agricultural employers.

The contractors recruit, employ, and transport an estimated 50,000 domestic and foreign workers in Washington each year.  State law requires these contractors to pay at least minimum wage, provide safe transportation, and ensure meal and rest breaks for workers. The contractors are also required to provide disclosure forms that spell out a worker’s wages, the type of work they’ll be doing, when and where the work will take place, and explain benefits such as housing and transportation.

L&I says Pacific Agri Services initially failed to provide records required for a scheduled compliance review, and early in the investigation they denied operating as a farm labor contractor. When L&I finally received the required records, investigators found that the company had failed to furnish complete and up-to-date disclosure forms and transporting 4,950 domestic and 26 foreign H2-A workers in 2024.

"The fine in this case reflects the sheer number of workers who did not receive the required information they need to make sure they are being properly paid and understand the conditions in which they will be working,” Templeton added.

That led to the largest portion of the fine in this case: $1.24 million. The agency also levied a $5,000 fine for operating without a farm labor contractor license, and a $1,000 fine for failure to maintain or produce required records.

The company has appealed the violations.

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