Oregon formally charged restaurant chain Typhoon with allegedly discriminating against Thai cooks.
The Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries formally charged Thai restaurant chain Typhoon with allegedly discriminating against Thai cooks.
The agency first alleged in May that Typhoon had discriminated against its Thai workers, using special work visas and employment contracts to pay them less, work them longer and subject them to less favorable working conditions than their non-Thai peers.
The findings stemmed from an eight-month investigation after Oregon Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian used special authority to file a complaint against the chain and its co-owners, Steve and Bo Kline. Steve Kline, Bo’s husband, died in August.
The agency said it plans to seek $250,000 for each Thai national who suffered emotionally, mentally and physically after being required to sign employment contracts with Typhoon. The contracts imposed unfair conditions and penalties on at least 13 workers, agency spokesman Bob Estabrook said, including former chefs Suchart and Nualjira Treemeth.
Read more at OregonLive.com.
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