More than 100 Thai farmers will receive $1.2 million from Del Monte Fresh Produce now that the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission has settled its discrimination case against the farm’s Hawaii subsidiary. 

The farm is one of six Hawaii farms that was sued by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in 2011 for labor violations. 

In addition to paying workers, Del Monte Fresh Produce has agreed to several terms to help ensure that discrimination doesn’t happen again, including training employees, conducting audits and telling employees about their rights. 

Theim Chaiyajit, one of the claimants, told Civil Beat that he is very happy the case is settled. He said he was very stressed after paying 650,000 baht to Global Horizons, a labor recruitment firm which he said didn’t pay him his promised wages after he came to work at the Del Monte farm. He is glad he can now pay off his debt of 300,000 baht. 

 The EEOC is also suing Global Horizons, which was charged in the largest human trafficking case in U.S. history in 2010. But the case was dismissed following missteps by federal prosecutors. 

The EEOC is planning to settle its cases against four of the other Hawaii farms including Captain Cook Coffee Company, Kauai Coffee Company, Kelena Farms, MacFarms of Hawaii. The terms are still unclear.

The agency is still pursuing its case against Maui Pinneaple Farms, with a trial scheduled for early February.

EEOC Attorney Anne Park says the class receiving the Del Monte Fresh Produce settlement is expected to be around 150 workers but could include more if more come forward. She encourages people who are part of the class to call EEOC at 877-461-7818.

Courtesy of the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment Commission

— Anita Hofschneider