After Major ICE Raid, Iowa Hits Kosher Meat Plant With $10M in Labor Fines

A kosher meatpacking plant in Iowa has been hit with not quite $10 million in fines by the state labor commission for alleged violation of wage laws after a May raid on the plant by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency in which about 390 people were arrested. At the time the raid was billed as the largest-ever single site enforcement action by ICE.

Officials say the Agriprocessors plant in Postville also owes workers $264,786.45 in back wages, reports the Des Moines Register.

The proposed penalties, which Agriprocessors has 30 days to contest, include: $9.6 million for alleged illegal deductions for "frock" costs for employees, $339,700 for alleged illegal deductions of 'sales tax/miscellaneous' costs and $4,900 for the company's claimed failure to issue final paychecks to 42 workers after the May 12 raid by immigration agents, the newspaper writes.

Earlier coverage:

ABAJournal.com: "Owner, Managers of Iowa Meat Plant Face 9,311 Child Labor Charges"

ABAJournal.com: "Largest-Ever ICE Raid Nets 390 at Iowa Meatpacking Plant"