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Pork Processor Fined For Alleged Improper Monmouth Hiring
FIRST REPORTED 3:00pm 8/23/11 A major pork producer with local ties is being fined for how that plant allegedly tried to hire some of its workers.

The U.S. Justice Department Monday announced that Farmland Foods' parent company Smithfield Foods has agreed to pay a fine of over $290,000 to settle a lawsuit filed two months ago accusing the Monmouth Farmland Foods plant of using practices excessive when hiring foreign-born U.S citizens as well as non-U.S. residents.

The Department of Justice's Civil Right Division's Office of Special Council for Immigration Related Unfair Employment Practices alleges that Farmland required that such citizens provide extra work authorization documents "beyond those required by federal law" -- things like resident cards or other similar documents. In some cases, depending on the worker, documents like passports or naturalization papers were also required.

Farmland, the Justice Department says, has agreed to stop the practice in addition to the fine, along with some other policies.

In a statement sent to WGIL, a Farmland spokesperson says foreign-born employees are key to Farmland's workforce, and that the plant is a voluntary member of an internet-based federal program that helps determine eligibility, and indicates their employees do go through a thorough hiring process.
08 24 11 by Newsroom
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