Six migrant workers have negotiated “substantial” compensation from a gangmaster couple following labour exploitation on a farm producing chickens.
Darrell Houghton and Jacqueline Judge, who ran Kent-based DJ Houghton Catching Services, which employed the workers, will pay “well over £1m” in compensation and legal costs to the group of Lithuanian migrants as part of a negotiated out-of-court settlement, according to the workers’ lawyers Leigh Day.
The company was accused last year of exploiting the workers at farms that produced eggs for supermarkets and producers including Noble Foods’ Happy Egg Co. Another 10 claimants will be represented by Leigh Day in a similar compensation claim against the couple in the new year.
The compensation deal follows a High Court ruling in June, which found the couple had failed to pay workers the minimum wage, had imposed unlawful deductions from wages, and failed to provide adequate facilities to rest, wash, eat and drink, according to Leigh Day. The claimants also alleged they were harassed, assaulted and threatened by supervisors. The defendants did not admit liability.
Following the allegations, Noble Foods launched a review to “ensure strict protocols were in place to protect all employees”.
“The conditions under which certain contracted staff employed by DJ Houghton Catching Services have been working in 2012 were not known to Noble Foods and resulted in the immediate and permanent cessation of DJ Houghton Catching Services’ contract,” said a spokesman from Noble Foods.
Shanta Martin, partner at the claimants’ law firm Leigh Day, said: “Our clients have faced enormous difficulties since they came to the UK thinking they would be earning a decent living for honest work, but found themselves being terribly exploited by a British business.”
“Our clients are so pleased to finally be getting not only wages they were owed, but a substantial sum to settle claims alleging physical and psychological abuse.”
A Kent Police spokesman confirmed an investigation into alleged exploitation of Lithuanian workers in Maidstone was still active. ”We will act on any further information that comes to light,” he said.
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