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Documented on the original SlaveryMap (2008–2016). We don’t have a verifiable source on file yet. Know one?
What happened
Trans Bay Steel Corporation (Napa County California) received a large sub-contract to provide services to retrofit the Bay Bridge and became the sponsoring employer for the workers. Trans Bay contracted with Kota Manpower Co., and Hi Cap Enterprises, Inc., to bring 48 skilled welders from Thailand using H-2B seasonal working visas to meet the needs of the project. While Kota and Hi-Cap brought over approximately 48 welders from Thailand, only nine of them went to work for Trans Bay. The remaining welders were brought to Los Angeles and Long Beach and forced to work without pay at Thai Restaurants owned by Kota Manpower and Hi-Cap; all 48 were not paid for their work. . Additionally, some workers were confined to cramped apartments without any electricity, water, or gas.
Response and intervention
The Department of Justice declined to file criminal trafficking charges in the case, the Thai community center approached the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to pursue the case with civil charges of national origin discrimination. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed a lawsuit naming Trans Bay Steel Corporation and Kota Manpower Inc. on behalf of the 48 workers. The case was settled out of court for 1.4 million which provided back pay for the workers two years of servitude in addition to various other expenses including, but not limited to, education, rent, and relocation. The Thai Community Center of Los Angeles coordinated the majority of the efforts. The EEOC provided legal services while the Coalition Against Slavery and Trafficking (CAST) helped the victims secure housing, jobs, health care, and public benefits. In addition The Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles helped 17 workers win T-Visas. Thai Community Center of Los Angeles The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) the L.A. based Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking (CAST) The Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles. Two Thai workers in LA escaped their bondage through the help of another worker at a restaurant owned by Kota Manpower. Upon their escape they fled to the Thai Community Center of LA.