California Farm Labor Contractor Sued

California Labor Commissioner Julie A. Su submitted a lawsuit Tuesday against a farm labor contracting company, Diaz Contracting, for multiple violations, including failure to provide minimum wage and overtime to employees. The lawsuit seeks in excess of $634,800 in unpaid wages, penalties, and damages affecting 129 workers.

The lawsuit, filed in Fresno Superior Court, stems from ongoing investigations conducted by the California Department of Industrial Relations’ (DIR) Division of Labor Standards Enforcement which revealed evidence which establishes that Javier Diaz willfully violated the law by failing to pay proper wages and overtime to its employees. The Diaz lawsuit will be prosecuted by the attorneys for the Labor Commissioner.

“This lawsuit demonstrates the labor commissioner’s commitment to ensuring that all workers in this state are protected by the wage floor,” said DIR Director Christine Baker. “Whether it is in agriculture or any other industry where wage violations occur, we will enforce the law.”

“Low wage workers are particularly vulnerable and the mobile nature of the work in industries such as agriculture often poses challenges to enforcement,” said Su. “This lawsuit is an example of our commitment to conducting in-depth, meaningful inspections. It also sends a message that when workers come forward to tell us about illegal working conditions, we will take action to protect them.”

The lawsuit seeks injunctive relief to stop Diaz Contracting from engaging in any future violations of the law.

“Our intent is to level the playing field so that violators gaining a competitive advantage over law-abiding employers are held accountable,” said Su. “California’s agriculture industry is a critical and valued part of the state’s economy. The farmworkers on whom the industry relies must be treated with the respect and dignity they deserve.”