WASHINGTON – The federal government reached an agreement today with SK Food Group Inc, a company based in Seattle, that resolved claims that the business required work-authorized, non-U.S. to produce specific Homeland Security documents to get jobs while not making similar demands of U.S. citizens.
These practices are prohibited under the anti-discrimination provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act, according to officials.
SK must pay $40,500 in penalties, the U.S. Justice Department states.
“Employers cannot create discriminatory obstacles for work-authorized non-U.S. citizens in the employment eligibility verification process,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Jocelyn Samuels for the Civil Rights Division. “In this case, we commend the company for its full cooperation during the investigation and for its efforts to address and resolve the deficiencies in its employment eligibility verification process.”
Under the agreement, SK Food, which was founded in 1943, must also do the following:
- Identify and provide back pay to any individuals who suffered lost wages as a result of the company’s alleged discriminatory documentary practices.
- Undergo training on the anti-discrimination provision of federal law.
- Agree to monitoring of its employment eligibility verification practices for a year.
“No one who is legally authorized to work in the United States should be denied that opportunity based on suspicion or stereotypes,” said U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan for the Western District of Washington. “The agreement filed today ensures training for human resource workers and outreach to employees to promote and safeguard equal treatment for all new workers.”