The public school system in Maryland's Prince George's County has been ordered to pay a total of $4 million to more than 1,000 foreign teachers working there after an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor.
The teachers, the vast majority of them from the Philippines, were hired under a visa program for foreign workers, but the Department of Labor found the teachers were illegally required to pay fees that should have been paid by their employer.
"The school system disputes the Agency’s findings of 'willful failure to pay wages' and 'failure to maintain documentation as required,'" read a statement from Prince George's County Public Schools.
The department ordered the school system to repay the teachers $4.2 million in fees and fined the school system $1.7 million for its conduct.
PGCPS will appeal the ruling.
"The finding on the 'willful violator' status and potential debarment may have a devastating impact on PGCPS and its employees and the school system’s ability to continue to place a highly qualified teacher in every classroom," PGCPS said.
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