4 Hawaii farms settle Thai workers suit for $2.4M

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HONOLULU — Four Hawaii farms are settling a discrimination lawsuit involving hundreds of Thai workers for $2.4 million.

HONOLULU — Four Hawaii farms are settling a discrimination lawsuit involving hundreds of Thai workers for $2.4 million.

Six farms and a California-based contractor are accused of subjecting workers to uninhabitable housing, insufficient food, low wages and deportation threats.

According to settlement agreements made public Tuesday, Mac Farms of Hawaii will pay $1.6 million, Kelena Farms will pay $275,000, Captain Cook Coffee Company will pay $100,000 and Kauai Coffee Company will pay $425,000.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity commission is announcing the settlements Tuesday morning in Honolulu.

The lawsuit is also against California-based labor contractor Global Horizons, which a judge recently found liable for discrimination and abuse.

Del Monte Fresh Produce settled for $1.2 million. A February trial date had been set for Global Horizons and Maui Pineapple Co.