The Obama administration’s Labor Department announced Wednesday it is suing the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, which it says forced hundreds of children in Utah and Arizona to harvest pecans with their bare hands, and for no pay.
Labor said the suit came after a multi-year investigation that found the church and some specific individuals and contractors were involved in child labor violations.
The department said it started an action to collect $1.9 million in civil penalties from those involved in the 2012-2013 pecan harvest, and filed suit against the church.
“In its investigation, the Wage and Hour Division found FLDS leaders directed schools in Hildale, Utah, and nearby Colorado City, Ariz., be closed so that children and adult laborers could work collecting pecans,” Labor said. “During the 2012-2013 harvest, investigators found that at least 175 children under the age of 13 worked harvesting pecans. At least 1,400 FLDS children and adults worked in the fields for no compensation.”
“For years, these employers have trampled on the rights of workers, both children and adults, and violated our child labor laws forcing minors to work for them. Such disregard for the rights of all workers, especially children, will not be tolerated,” said Wage and Hour Division Administrator Dr. David Weil.
Labor said it has been investigating the church since 2013, and said it filed a contempt of court action against an individual and a contractor, Paragon Contractors Corp., for violating a court order dealing with prior child labor violations.
