NEW ORLEANS – The U.S. Department of Labor debarred a Calcasieu Parish farmer from participating in the H-2A visa program for one year, after an investigation discovered multiple violations under the H-2A program.The department’s Wage and Hour Division determined that Jevon Natali, operating as Jevon Natali Farms near Lake Charles, violated H-2A program requirements when it misrepresented the actual terms and conditions of employment on its submitted job order. The H-2A visa program allows agricultural employers who anticipate a shortage of domestic workers to bring nonimmigrant foreign workers to the U.S. to perform agricultural labor of a temporary or seasonal nature. The one-year debarment prohibits the employer from hiring workers through the program during that period because of the seriousness of the violations.“Employers who abuse the H-2A program should expect to be held accountable for their actions,” said Wage and Hour Division District Director Troy Mouton in New Orleans. “Debarment sends a clear message that the Department of Labor will protect the integrity of this program and safeguard opportunities for American workers.”Division investigators also found Fair Labor Standards Act violations when Jevon Natali Farms failed to pay the required overtime premium of time-and-one-half employees’ regular rates of payfor non-agricultural work performed over 40 hours in a workweek. Jevon Natali Farms also failed to provide paystubs with the required information.Employees and employers can contact the Wage and Hour Division with questions and requests for compliance assistance at its toll-free helpline, 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243). Employers are encouraged to use the agency’s industry-specific compliance assistance toolkits to learn about their responsibilities under the laws enforced by the division.