(Georgia) consulting firm to pay (H-1B) foreign workers $1 million in back wages

Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A Suwanee-based consulting firm will pay nearly $1 million in back wages and interest to 135 temporary foreign employees who worked under a federal visa program, according to an agreement with the U.S. Department of Labor.

The Labor Department said Smartsoft International Inc., which admitted no wrongdoing, violated the rules of the H-1B program, which allows companies to hire foreign workers in specialty occupations for a maximum of six years. A Labor Department spokesman said the positions were skilled, professional jobs. He did not know the period of the workers' employment.

An investigation by the Labor Department's Wage and Hour Division found that some workers weren't paid at the beginning of their employment. It also found that some were paid as part-timers even though they were hired under a full-time agreement. And some were paid less than the prevailing wage in the geographic areas where they worked.

Read more: http://www.ajc.com/business/suwanee-consulting-firm-to-594779.html

Are you reading this???

internet connectivity problem

internet connectivity problem

:grr: