VINELAND (New Jersey) DAILY JOURNAL

October 29, 2009

Government penalizes Vineland farm

VINELAND -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division cited the owners of a vegetable farm here for child labor and minimum wage violations, according to a news release from the department.

An investigation found Robert Ferrari Inc. employed two individuals under the age of 12 and did not pay the minors at least the federal minimum wage, the release said. The sum of the amount due to the workers is $4,888.

A $2,282 penalty was assessed against the farm for child labor violations, the release said.

The department conducted an investigation as part of the division's 2009 child labor initiative.

"The Labor Department is committed to ensuring that minors are protected on the job," said Pat Reilly, director of the wage and hour division in southern New Jersey, in a news release."Because of the special dangers posed to children by agricultural employment, it is vital that agricultural employers know and comply with all rules provided under federal law."

The vegetable farm also received a $700 penalty for transportation and record-keeping violations of the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act.