Mass. Farm Ordered To Pay Underpaid Workers

Federal labor regulators say the owners of a western Massachusetts farm have been ordered to pay more than $300,000 in back wages, damages and penalties for underpaying workers.

The U.S. Labor Department announced Thursday that it had secured a consent judgment in federal court ordering Whately-based Chang & Sons Enterprises Inc. to pay 14 workers on its bean sprout and soy bean farm.

Federal authorities say the workers were paid below the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour and often worked 90 hours per week planting, harvesting and packaging sprouts. Instead, they were paid a flat rate of $350 to $450 per week.

Chang & Sons distributes its products to restaurants throughout New England, New York and New Jersey.

A message has been left with Chang & Sons.