Fremont California-based Electronics for Imaging (EFI) flew eight Indian employees from its office in Bangalore to its Fremont headquarters in US and paid them the equivalent of $1.21 an hour as wages. EFI is an international corporation that focuses on digital and inkjet printing technology.
After the US Department of Labor discovered these labour law violations, EFI was ordered to pay back more than $40,000 in back wages based on California’s own minimum wage of $8 per hour. The company was also fined an additional $3,500.
Beverly Rubin,VP HR Shared Services of EFI described the violations an “administrative error” and said it would not happen again."During this assignment, they continued to be paid their regular pay in India, as well as a special bonus for their efforts on this project," Rubin said. "During this process we unintentionally overlooked laws that require even foreign employees to be paid based on local US standards."
The matter was first reported in San Jose Mercury News reported this week. "It is certainly outrageous and unacceptable for employers here in Silicon Valley to bring workers and pay less than the minimum wage," said Alberto Raymond, a Labor Department assistant district director, to NBC News.
After the US Department of Labor discovered these labour law violations, EFI was ordered to pay back more than $40,000 in back wages based on California’s own minimum wage of $8 per hour. The company was also fined an additional $3,500.
#Silicon Valley based #EFI fined for exploiting #Indian employees pic.twitter.com/yq90ib3zRq
— Press Release Watch (@PrReleaseWatch) October 25, 2014
Beverly Rubin,VP HR Shared Services of EFI described the violations an “administrative error” and said it would not happen again."During this assignment, they continued to be paid their regular pay in India, as well as a special bonus for their efforts on this project," Rubin said. "During this process we unintentionally overlooked laws that require even foreign employees to be paid based on local US standards."
We unintentionally overlooked laws that require even foreign employees to be paid based on local US standards! #EFI pic.twitter.com/ZtgIDuTw0J
— Murali Jayaraman (@JMR_CHN) October 25, 2014
The matter was first reported in San Jose Mercury News reported this week. "It is certainly outrageous and unacceptable for employers here in Silicon Valley to bring workers and pay less than the minimum wage," said Alberto Raymond, a Labor Department assistant district director, to NBC News.
