Six Charged In Forced Labor Of 400 Thais On US Farms

[dekLA]

more info and vids about Mordechai Orian aka slave master an israelli imigrant himself.

http://insiderexclusive.com/vs2.htm

http://www.google.co...%26tbs%3Disch:1

Edited September 3, 2010 by dekLA

[moetownblues]

These people are nothng but Parasites feeding off the misery of others. Just looking at the names of the suspects they appear to Thai themselves bar one.

[mark2552]

Low-lifes dealing in the misery of humanity. I would lock them up and throw away the key! What is even more sad is the willingness of Thai workers to give up their families and leave to be able to support their spouse and siblings. Then being handled by these animals, makes me really sick! This is nothing short of human trafficking and slave labour.

[mark2552]

Low-lifes dealing in the misery of humanity. I would lock them up and throw away the key! What is even more sad is the willingness of Thai workers to give up their families and leave to be able to support their spouse and siblings. Then being handled by these animals, makes me really sick! This is nothing short of human trafficking and slave labour.

[mark2552]

This the cumulative state over many many years of Thailands inability to product quality teachers, quality education programs for the majority of the poor in this country.

There has been enough money raised thru governement corruption to provided a first class skills and education e very child here in this country who begs on the streets in Bangkok or who lives in 90% of the country which lives in the sheer ongoing agony of poverty whos shelters are made of tin and wooden shacks.

Who ought to serve time are the people who knowning let this happen; the ones who have filled their pockets from

payoffs etc etc etc

[mark2552]

So what will the Government of Thailand do to the Thai Recruiters of were involved in this conspiracy??????

I presume that the governemt will treat them to a buffet lunch at a 5 or 6 star hotel along the river for a job well done. The Penn Hotel has a very

nice one!

[mark2552]

The buffet dinner will be for an outstanding job in corruction, and also for reducing

the load on the infrustructure by 400 people. Can;t you just see those nice big

trophies now.

[akaika]

Forced labor of 400 Thais on US farms? I believe the 400 went there at their own free wills.

As mentioned in another topic, please stop making ridiculous remarks and go back sleep, my dear.

forced? probably not. duped? definitely.

i wonder how they even got the visas to get across the pond in the first place.

The U.S. is the one to set-up this farm employment program because either 1) no American is willing to do the work, and 2) if the American do want the work, the rates are too high to allow the produce to be sold to the public reasonably. The special circumstance visas were issued by the U.S. One of the farms in the scandal is based in Hawaii, called Aloun Farms (found this: http://www.hawaiinew....asp?s=12836451).

Funny thing is there is another type of program for students available which is a work-study type offering in the U.S. The students also get special visas allowing them to work for a limited time. Agents here and in the U.S. take a portion of their salaries as pay. They work menial jobs such as Pizza Huts, tollway booths, amusement parks, etc. It's for filling spaces that average Americans don't want.

So who's to blame? The lazy Americans and governement opening these opportunities for foreigners? Or the sleazy agencies? Take your pick.

The multiple choice "who's to blame" question, besides not having a correct choice, totally misses the point.

Duped? Not likely with the Hawaii farm and the Colorado restaurant cases. Most of the people that do these overseas agency gigs know at least one if not several that have returned with success stories (read: money) and are freely willing to accept the circumstances.

Drill down into the stories and you find the restaurant operator in CO only charged $4500 of which $1500 was a bond. Notice there was no charge for violating wage and compensation laws but only for not paying the employee federal payroll tax (social security) which the employees are not entitled to as non-citizens. Up to 32 hours overtime per week is what? 13 hour days? In the restaurant business? The horror!

And this was the, "...up to..." MAXIMUM overtime in several years of this forced labor. Maybe the employees were "okay" with the work conditions and compensation? Under the H1B specialty worker visa, the employee MUST return to the home country every three years (and they can not do "visa runs" to Mexico or Canada to extend the H1B).

Certainly the story about the farm in Hawaii indicates the workers had no serious grievances and many even came to the court proceedings in support of the owner/operator. Again no Federal Wage and Compensation Act indictments... Only trafficking in persons. So maybe someone told some of the employees at the farm that if they filed a complaint and there were a trafficking in persons conviction, as "victims" they would be eligible for citizenship under H.R. 7311?

Maybe an overly righteous college student, or one with a grievance with his restauranteur employer decided he wanted to "do the right thing" and got the authorities involved and they did what they must do?

To be clear, if the conditions are either truly inhumane or not acceptable to the worker or the situation were completely misrepresented (what isn't misrepresented a little in sales) then something MUST be done. The who's to blame is a much longer discussion I think.

And BTW, one of the largest U.S. employers in the "work/study" visa program are the casinos.

[akaika]

This the cumulative state over many many years of Thailands inability to product quality teachers, quality education programs for the majority of the poor in this country.

There has been enough money raised thru governement corruption to provided a first class skills and education e very child here in this country who begs on the streets in Bangkok or who lives in 90% of the country which lives in the sheer ongoing agony of poverty whos shelters are made of tin and wooden shacks.

Who ought to serve time are the people who knowning let this happen; the ones who have filled their pockets from

payoffs etc etc etc

Well said. And there are other countries that make Thailand look like Singapore regarding quality of education. This is a lot closer to the truth of who is to blame...

Edited September 4, 2010 by akaika

[dighambara]

Low-lifes dealing in the misery of humanity. I would lock them up and throw away the key! What is even more sad is the willingness of Thai workers to give up their families and leave to be able to support their spouse and siblings. Then being handled by these animals, makes me really sick! This is nothing short of human trafficking and slave labour.

It is the Thai way...

"The defendants maintained the victims' labor on farms in Hawaii and the western US state of Washington "by threatening to send them back to Thailand, knowing they would face serious economic harms created by the debts," said the Justice Department."

This method was used in the 60 for 'Short-time Girls'. Sold into the trade by husbands or parents, for an amount the girl had to pay back. Her ID card and a legal financial note was held by the bosses. Some ran away, but many just accepted fate and services 7 - 10 clients a day, for a 25 Baht, receiving a 10 Baht reduction on their bill...

I have heard that this is the method used for the large numbers of Lao girls working illegally in the whore houses.

Every few months, the local police arrest 20 or so girls for prostitution and 'send them back to Laos'.

A never ending cycle of people in need being exploited by others - as with illegal immigration in the US...

[mmh8]

Whats with the blame game. Who holds responsibility? the ones who control the borders. The points are allocated on the country that allows this to happen.

Why also this apologist crap about the fault not residing with the us?

Of course it is a us problem

This is how the sex slaves get in too

and those that use these and benefit in any way are complicit in this misery and slavery

Edited September 4, 2010 by mmh8

[Freeman64]

I remember a few years ago in Australia some specialist Indian tilers were brought to Australia to work on a temple being constructed near the city I lived in.

The circumstances were similar and the Indian tilers were paid something like two dollars Australian a day for working lots of hours.

The unions got wind of this, came on site, signed up the workers and forced the owners to pay full Australian rates to the tilers for the time they had worked there.

I think the 'contracts' were declared illegal. I cannot remember if the issue went to court or not. I think it went to an arbitration court.

The issue was well publicised (at least in the local city press) .

I wonder if there are any unions in the US willing to support these people? It could be an option.

If the 'facts' of the OP are correct these people certainly seem to have a case.

[sirchai]

agree with the above comment,

also wonder what affect his will have on the human rights scoring the us is always touting , perhaps that will be forgotten about again , hmm

69 years in prison would be enough.

[sirchai]

The Thai's prey on their own people. I know of several cases where a Thai has put up some 30-40k Baht for an overseas job...only to get scammed. They prey on the poor people in the village and their dream of a better life for their family. They should be caught and put in jail...if they had good police here, who weren't in bed with these guys...it might happen?

Exactly. We often discuss here about Thais scamming westerners, but we (westerners) are small potatos. The real action is Thais cheating Thais. Sad really...

We're all in for the money.................

[asiawatcher]

"...i wonder how they even got the visas to get across the pond in the first place."

1. I don't think they actually flew in via an open international like LAX or Oahu and

2. There are no corrupt officials in US immigration or embassies around the world?

Greasing palms in many areas helps a lot of people get what they want - it's just that those who grease 'always' do so for illegal means.

The comment about they travelled there of their own free will so they were not forced labour, is ridiculous. They were conned into promise of lucrative jobs and travelled by their own free will only to have their passports confiscated, any chance of monies coming in being deducted (at exorbitant interest), for their travel costs and being made to sign over property as security thus they become slave labour. What is not clear about the methodology here?

[akaika]

"...i wonder how they even got the visas to get across the pond in the first place."

1. I don't think they actually flew in via an open international like LAX or Oahu and

2. There are no corrupt officials in US immigration or embassies around the world?

Greasing palms in many areas helps a lot of people get what they want - it's just that those who grease 'always' do so for illegal means.

The comment about they travelled there of their own free will so they were not forced labour, is ridiculous. They were conned into promise of lucrative jobs and travelled by their own free will only to have their passports confiscated, any chance of monies coming in being deducted (at exorbitant interest), for their travel costs and being made to sign over property as security thus they become slave labour. What is not clear about the methodology here?

You obviously have not seen the agency groups travel into LAX. And there is nothing ridiculous about traveling on their own free will. Living in a "modified container" is better than living in a tin shack especially when you can get 10 times the daily salary for easier work in many cases. In America, any legitimate company can easily sponsor special needs visas good for up to 3 years. Casinos arrange work/study for any "college" student. The farm working program is only applicable for Hawaii because Hawaii has no seasonal migrant workers. I know plenty that want to move to London to work in their friend's cousin's sister-in-law's restaurant and KNOW FULL WELL that it will be 15-18 hour days and they will sleep in the kitchen pantry on the floor but they want to earn 50,000 baht a month.

Slavery and forced labor is one thing but so many of these are clearly on the side of free will.

[Pacificperson]

The visas were probably perfectly legal. The problems were 1. confinement (if you require the workers not to leave the site, then you have to pay them 168 hours per week), 2. labor brokers' fees paid by the employees - not allowed - all fees are to be paid by the employer as a cost of doing business and 3. under payment probably both of regular wages and unpaid overtime.

These seem to be common problems with all guess worker programs. The workers would be willing to take the job at $3.00/hour and the system says that you have to pay $10.00/hour. There is always a lot of room to skim. The H-2 workers that I interact with say that they work one year for free and one year for themselves.

[dekLA]

more from Hawaii News paper

http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/20100903_6_accused_in_human_trafficking_case.html

[moetownblues]

"Company officials then required the workers to pay substantial recruitment fees, from $9,500 to $21,000, to get jobs, the indictment said. The company also secured deeds to family land in Thailand as collateral."

If a Farang can't own land in Thailand then how can these people secure deeds to family land in Thailand. Would the Thai Government deem this illegal and not allow the transfer of land from a thai to a farang?

[lonewolf99]

There used be a term widely used but has gone off the radar.

BANANA REPUBLIC....................

I have worked with hundreds of Americans over the years, and more and more recently since 9/11 they ask "why does the world hate us so much?"

Well its because the average American will not lower themselves to to do menial tasks or pay high prices for commodities. So a massive influx of "cheap labour" turns up on their door step after being sold the American Dream and the U.S. Govt imposes "sanctions" globally on sh*t pot 3rd world countries and tells them that the U.S. will only buy cheap BANANAS...(and every thing else cheap)

America is the Home of Morbid Obesity - Why? 'cos the food is cheap and the lazy lard asses don't do menial manual labour. So a vicious cycle occurrs where dirt poor people get exploited because of America and Europes Greed. There are worse countries perpetuating the problem. Saudi and the Emirates exploit millions of Asians on a scale that beggars belief. I have seen it first hand in Qatar. Nepalese scaffolders paid 50 U.S. a month after buying the job from an agent in Nepal. They get no wages in the first year to pay that loan off. Then have to work 7days a week for 4 years to get 10 days off. There is a compound full of Nepalese workers in Doha that live on handouts from ex-pats because they have no money for a return ticket home or passports. NICE !!!.....mans inhumanity to fellow man all because of greed.

And as stated before, even Thais exploit Thais....so much for Thaksin's Thai Rak Thais... b*ll*cks.

Hang 'em high posts are banned on here....but I just thought I mention it starting with the U.S. / UK / E.U. politicians then move onto the rest......

Dont FIX THE BLAME....FIX THE FRIKKEN PROBLEM...at grass roots...but it will never happen in my lifetime.

:jap:

[BangrakBob]

There used be a term widely used but has gone off the radar.

BANANA REPUBLIC....................

I have worked with hundreds of Americans over the years, and more and more recently since 9/11 they ask "why does the world hate us so much?"

Well its because the average American will not lower themselves to to do menial tasks or pay high prices for commodities. So a massive influx of "cheap labour" turns up on their door step after being sold the American Dream and the U.S. Govt imposes "sanctions" globally on sh*t pot 3rd world countries and tells them that the U.S. will only buy cheap BANANAS...(and every thing else cheap)

America is the Home of Morbid Obesity - Why? 'cos the food is cheap and the lazy lard asses don't do menial manual labour. So a vicious cycle occurrs where dirt poor people get exploited because of America and Europes Greed. There are worse countries perpetuating the problem. Saudi and the Emirates exploit millions of Asians on a scale that beggars belief. I have seen it first hand in Qatar. Nepalese scaffolders paid 50 U.S. a month after buying the job from an agent in Nepal. They get no wages in the first year to pay that loan off. Then have to work 7days a week for 4 years to get 10 days off. There is a compound full of Nepalese workers in Doha that live on handouts from ex-pats because they have no money for a return ticket home or passports. NICE !!!.....mans inhumanity to fellow man all because of greed.

And as stated before, even Thais exploit Thais....so much for Thaksin's Thai Rak Thais... b*ll*cks.

Hang 'em high posts are banned on here....but I just thought I mention it starting with the U.S. / UK / E.U. politicians then move onto the rest......

Dont FIX THE BLAME....FIX THE FRIKKEN PROBLEM...at grass roots...but it will never happen in my lifetime.

:jap:

It's insane in the Middle East, the poor Asian labourers, the ghosts of Al Qhoz, Dubai, living out of bins and on charity and no one cares for their plight. Not to mention the 1000's of women who are brought on a false promise then forced into prostitution

[MUYTHAI]

Forced labor of 400 Thais on US farms? I believe the 400 went there at their own free wills.

Please use your brain. They were forced into labor after they got to the US. It is a form of indentured servatude.

[daboyz1]

Forced labor of 400 Thais on US farms? I believe the 400 went there at their own free wills.

Please use your brain. They were forced into labor after they got to the US. It is a form of indentured servatude.

Spell much?

Indentured servitude

[MUYTHAI]

agree with the above comment,

also wonder what affect his will have on the human rights scoring the us is always touting , perhaps that will be forgotten about again , hmm

I would say investigating, arresting and prosecuting would be a positive. You did notice that most of the persons running this scam are also Thai. (big shocker) As has been the case several other times in the past.

Coming to America and acting Thai is not a good idea. You can't buy a court ruling there, worst of luck to them.

Another good reason to look harder at citizenship, residence and work permits in the US the way they do here in Thailand and other countries to prevent this sort of thing.

' Israeli Mordechai Orian ' sounds like a jewish name to me. I wonder if he was the ring leader of the traffiking scam? The other three names sound like Thai names

.

[mmh8]

agree with the above comment,

also wonder what affect his will have on the human rights scoring the us is always touting , perhaps that will be forgotten about again , hmm

I would say investigating, arresting and prosecuting would be a positive. You did notice that most of the persons running this scam are also Thai. (big shocker) As has been the case several other times in the past.

Coming to America and acting Thai is not a good idea. You can't buy a court ruling there, worst of luck to them.

Another good reason to look harder at citizenship, residence and work permits in the US the way they do here in Thailand and other countries to prevent this sort of thing.

' Israeli Mordechai Orian ' sounds like a jewish name to me. I wonder if he was the ring leader of the traffiking scam? The other three names sound like Thai names

.

Seem to be missing the point here, What the hel_l does it matter whose name is where, the slave trade many years ago was often perpetuated and maybe even originated by tribes capturing members of other tribes and either using them as slaves themselves or selling them on to traders. So where does the blame reside? the root? which is it? the market ? who knows

it still needs sorting out, I think gradually global leaders should work together to tackle what is a global problem instead of turning it into a politcal stick to try and steer some countries, but what are the chances of that?

so how does the us deal with the fact that is continues to be country where the slave trade is perpetuated? we can only watch and see, as far as I can tell hilary clinton is doing some good work on this account, it's about the only useful thing she ever has done

Edited September 5, 2010 by mmh8

[TAWP]

"Company officials then required the workers to pay substantial recruitment fees, from $9,500 to $21,000, to get jobs, the indictment said. The company also secured deeds to family land in Thailand as collateral."

If a Farang can't own land in Thailand then how can these people secure deeds to family land in Thailand. Would the Thai Government deem this illegal and not allow the transfer of land from a thai to a farang?

The agents are in most cases 100% Thai.

[dekLA]

im trying to do my part here in the US their office is near me well not really its in beverly hills....farangs and thais all together these people are scums.

what ever happen to the 400 peeps???

we need to talk to them...get them expose to the media back home.

There is absolutely zero media coverage about this here in Los Angeles.

spread the word....

oi-vey!!!! to Mordechai Orian haha :jap: satoo

[pookiki]

This is the second indictment in recent times involving Thai workers who contracted for work in the US using Thai labor brokers. [Google Aloun farms for the previous incident.] There is no doubt in my mind as to the working conditions imposed on this workers. My question is what will happen to the labor brokers here in Thailand that are complicit in this trafficking? Labor brokers are, for the most part, scumbags who prey on people looking for a better life. From what I have heard in researching this issue is that the labor brokers here in Thailand will close their business and then reopen under a different name and are rarely, if ever, prosecuted for their involvement in these issues.

Migrant workers deserve the protection of their 'home' country to insure that they are not being charged excessive recruitment fees and the government should pursue legal actions against the brokers when their contracts are not followed.

Migrant labor is a commodity that is abused and exploited mercilessly. In Thailand, it is the Burmese, Cambodians, and Laotians. In the US, it is migrants from South Asia, Mexico, and Central and South America.

I hope the indictments of Global Horizon will serve to stop the exploitation of migrant labor in the US but all countries need to regulate the labor brokers which are the main culprit in this slave trade.

[pookiki]

I am sure it was the Thai labor brokers that secured the title to the land and not Global Horizons.

"Company officials then required the workers to pay substantial recruitment fees, from $9,500 to $21,000, to get jobs, the indictment said. The company also secured deeds to family land in Thailand as collateral."

If a Farang can't own land in Thailand then how can these people secure deeds to family land in Thailand. Would the Thai Government deem this illegal and not allow the transfer of land from a thai to a farang?

The agents are in most cases 100% Thai.

[pookiki]

Yes, maybe the workers initially went to the US on their on free will thinking that their labor contracts that they signed in Thailand would be observed. However, once in the US, their passports were confiscated and they were basically imprisoned by their employer. Then, they were forced to work under threat of deportation and told to pay more money in recruitment fees.

To exact labor under threats of deportation and extortion certainly meets the definition of 'forced labor' under the ILO Convention!

Forced labor of 400 Thais on US farms? I believe the 400 went there at their own free wills.