Minimal Fine Imposed on Farm Labor Contractor

By Ag Weekly
Friday, October 24, 2008 2:02 PM CDT

BUHL, Idaho - Farm labor contractor Hector Hugo Flores was fined just $175 after admitting he was operating last summer without the required state license. The fine was less than the cost of the license.

Flores, 35, of Buhl, was free to go after paying the fine imposed in mid-September by Twin Falls County Magistrate Roger Harris, who did not place Flores on probation. The maximum penalty for violating the farm labor contractor licensing law is $1,000 in fines and 60 days in jail. Violations are misdemeanors.

Flores was the ninth person convicted of violating the 2003 state licensing law. None of the others has been sentenced to jail, but Flores is the first case in which a period of probation has not been imposed. His father, Jose Flores of Twin Falls, was convicted in 2006 of the same offense and in addition to a $300 fine was placed on two years probation.

Only one convicted violator was given the maximum fine although the magistrate in that case sus-pended payment of $600 of the fine pending successful completion of the probationary period.

Idaho currently has over three dozen licensed farm labor contractors. Making sure employees are paid the wages they are due was a key reason the licensing law was approved. The law also protects farmers who hire licensed contractors by relieving them of liability for unpaid wages and workers’ compensation claims.

In addition to the $250 annual licensing fee, the law requires farm labor contractors to obtain a bond for at least $10,000 depending on crew size to ensure payment of workers and have proof of workers’ com-pensation coverage for crews and insurance for vehicles used to transport crews.

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