Farm labor contractor in Buhl admits violating state licensing law 

Farm labor contractor Hector Hugo Flores has pleaded guilty to operating without the required state license, the state Department of Labor announced.

Flores, 35, of Buhl, will be sentenced Sept. 16 by Twin Falls County Magistrate Roger Harris, according to a news release. Flores, who entered his plea on Monday, faces a maximum penalty of $1,000 in fines and 60 days in jail on the misdemeanor charge.

Following an investigation by an Idaho Department of Labor compliance officer, Flores was cited earlier this month by the Twin Falls County Sheriff for running a crew of farm workers in a bean field near Buhl, the news release says. He is the ninth person convicted of violating the 2003 state licensing law, the department says.

His father, Jose Flores of Twin Falls, was convicted in 2006 of the same offense but was only fined $300 and placed on two years probation. None of those previously convicted has been jailed, and only one was given the maximum fine although the magistrate in that case suspended payment of $600 of the fine pending successful completion of the probationary period, the news release says.

Idaho currently has over three dozen licensed farm labor contractors. The department says that making sure employees are paid the wages they are due was a key reason the licensing law was approved. The law also protects farmers who hire licensed contractors by relieving them of liability for unpaid wages and workers’ compensation claims.

In addition to the $250 annual licensing fee, the law requires farm labor contractors to obtain a bond for at least $10,000 depending on crew size to ensure payment of workers and have proof of workers’ compensation coverage for crews and insurance for vehicles used to transport crews.

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