Harvest Plus assessed $252K in penalties, debarred from H-2A program for three years KENNEWICK, WA – The U.S. Department of Labor has debarred a Kennewick farm labor contractor from participating in the H-2A temporary agricultural worker program for three years after finding the employer provided workers with unhealthy living conditions; transported them in unsafe vehicles driven by people without licenses or proper permits; withheld wages and made illegal pay deductions; told workers to falsify documents to mask violations of federal regulations; and denied U.S. workers access to jobs.An investigation by the department’s Wage and Hour Division found Harvest Plus LLC, which provides…
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“I condemn the broadening of the Middle East conflict, with escalation after escalation,” he said in a tersely worded statement. “This must stop. We absolutely need a ceasefire.” Rising hostilities Iran fired waves of ballistic missiles at Israel on Tuesday, just hours after Israel launched what it called a “limited” ground incursion into southern Lebanon, according to media reports. There were no immediate reports of any injuries on the ground in Israel and the Israeli military said around 180 missiles were fired, most of which were intercepted. The developments follow Israeli airstrikes in the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital, Beirut,…
Assistant Secretary for Energy Resources Geoffrey R. Pyatt will travel to Athens, Greece and Istanbul, Türkiye October 8-10, 2024, for ministerial and private sector meetings on regional energy transitions and energy security priorities. In Athens, Assistant Secretary Pyatt will discuss advancing U.S.-Greece energy cooperation with senior Greek officials including from the Office of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Energy, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He will also join the leadership teams of energy companies to discuss opportunities in clean energy deployment and improving regional connectivity. Assistant Secretary Pyatt will also deliver remarks at an EU-hosted workshop intended to…
A former combatant fighting for the rights of her people on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines has been talking about how she has swapped her combat fatigues for jilbabs [outer garment]and her life in the jungle for a more peaceful rural community. Suraida ‘Sur’ Amil joined the Bangsamoro Islamic Women Auxiliary Brigade (BIWAB) as an 18-year-old with the with the goal of achieving autonomy for the predominantly Muslim regions of Mindanao. After an agreement was signed to end the insurrection and provide a greater autonomy and self-governance for the people of Bangsamoro, she participated in a reconciliation programme…
Today, the EU Mission Label was awarded to 20 cities that are part of the EU Mission for Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities, one of the EU Missions under Horizon Europe, the EU’s research and innovation programme.The Label recognises the cities’ plans to achieve climate neutrality by 2030 and aims to facilitate access to public and private funding towards that objective. This brings the total number of cities with the label to 53.Iliana Ivanova, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, said:“The EU Mission Label celebrates the bold steps these 20 cities are taking towards climate neutrality. Their commitment paves the way for a…
ROME, GA – The U.S. Department of Labor has announced Ball Container LLC, a subsidiary of Ball Corp., has entered into a conciliation agreement in which the employer will pay $309,000 in back wages and interest to resolve alleged race-based hiring discrimination at the company’s beverage manufacturing facility in Rome. A routine compliance review by the department’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs found that, from Feb. 1, 2020, through Jan. 31, 2021, the employer discriminated against 192 Black applicants for production technician positions at the facility. The agency determined Ball Container’s actions violated Executive Order 11246, which prohibits federal contractors from discriminating in employment based…
This article is part of The Conversation’s “Business Basics” series where we ask experts to discuss key concepts in business, economics and finance. Nuclear power is expensive, but it remains a cornerstone of the Coalition’s plan to get Australia to net-zero emissions. The federal opposition is yet to release its own costings for the proposal. Nonetheless, federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton caused something of a stir when in a recent speech, he said the costs of Australia’s nuclear plants could be “amortised” over their 80-year lifespan. If hearing a word like “amortised” immediately makes your eyes glaze over, you’re probably…
James Swan, acting Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), briefed the Security Council in New York alongside Mohammed El-Amine Souef, Head of the AU Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS). The mandate for UNSOM is set to expire at the end of the month, and Somalia has proposed a two-year process to transfer tasks to national authorities and the UN Country Team. ATMIS is expected to leave Somalia at the end of the year and drawdown of forces continues. Constitutional amendments Mr. Swan highlighted recent progress made on the political front. In…
In Berlin, Assistant Secretary Witkowsky will lead an interagency delegation to the second U.S.–Germany Conflict Prevention and Stabilization Dialogue hosted by Germany’s Director-General for Crisis Prevention, Stabilization, Peacebuilding, and Humanitarian Assistance. During this dialogue they will discuss areas of shared interest and cooperation, including activities under the U.S Strategy to Prevent Conflict and Promote Stability. The Assistant Secretary will also take part in the third plenary of the Berlin Climate Security Conference, where she will underscore the growing intersection of conflict prevention and climate-related efforts, advocating for integrated approaches as outlined in the newly released U.S. Framework for Climate Resilience…
Employer: La Flor de Mexico Inc.Investigation site: 5121 Commerce Drive Baldwin Park, CA 91706Investigation findings: A U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division investigation found the wholesale tortilla manufacturer in Los Angeles County failed to pay minimum wage to 72 employees for all hours worked and overtime premium rates for hours over 40 in…