US firm to pay $290,000 for shortchanging Hispanic workers

Washington, Sep 24 (IANS/EFE) Medtronic, a supplier of medical, surgical and laboratory equipment, will pay $290,000 to 78 Hispanic workers for the wage discrimination they suffered, the US Department of Labour said Monday.

The department's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programmes (OFCCP) said the company discriminated against the Hispanic workers, paying them less that their co-workers at a manufacturing plant in Danvers, Massachusetts.

The watchdog OFCCP makes sure that companies with federal contracts comply with labour laws that ban discrimination based on sex, race, colour, religion, national origin, status as a protected veteran and more.

"Pay discrimination robs workers of the wages they deserve and takes from their families countless opportunities they might have had," OFCCP director Patricia A. Shiu said in a statement.

"Because pay discrimination is often hidden from workers, OFCCP's enforcement in this area is essential," she said.

"I am pleased that we were able to work with Medtronic to finally resolve this case, provide compensation to the affected workers and fix the pay practices that led to this disparity in the first place."

Under the terms of the agreement, Medtronic will pay the affected workers $290,000 in back pay, plus interest on the salary shortfall that began in April 2008.

Employees involved in workers' compensation decisions at the Danvers plant will also be given training in the company's equal employment opportunity programmes.

In fiscal 2012, Medtronic won more than $33 million in federal contracts.

--IANS/EFE

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