NEWNAN, GA. (CN) - Venus Thread fired its human resources manager for objecting to the company's "systematic visa fraud" and its "inhumane and abusive treatment" of workers it brought in from Thailand, the woman claims in Federal Court.
Brenda Robinson claims Venus brought in workers from Thailand on H-1B visas by misrepresenting them as "technicians," though they were laborers. H-1B visa recipients must have bachelor's degrees and special expertise, and these workers had neither, she says.
She also claims the company promised at least two workers that they would qualify for resident alien status under the E-2 visa program if they met production quotas, though they did not qualify under the E-2 program.
She claims she objected to the company's forcing its immigrant laborers to work more than 12 hours a day, six or seven days a week, and refusing to let the overworked women seek medical attention.
She says the company fired her on a pretext to retaliate for her complaints. She demands lost pay and punitive damages. She is represented by David Basil with Lim & Basil of Tallapoosa.
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