US sues Puerto Rico banana company over wages

(AP) The U.S. Department of Labor has filed a lawsuit against a banana company in Puerto Rico accusing its owners of paying workers less than the minimum wage.

The government accuses Bananera Fabre of paying workers $6.25 and $6.50 an hour instead of the required $7.25. The lawsuit states that the owners, Jose Fabre Laboy and his son, Jose Fabre Santiago, owe workers more than $191,000 in back wages.

The two men run a farm in the southwestern town of Sabana Grande that also produces tomatoes and other fruits and vegetables.

A department statement Tuesday says the company previously violated the minimum wage law and recently paid more than $38,000 in back wages and more than $6,000 in penalties.

Company officials could not be immediately reached for comment.