The state says it has found evidence of discrimination at the Typhoon chain of Thai restaurants around Oregon and Washington.
Two cooks from Typhoon contacted the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries to say Thai employees were being discriminated against.
State Labor Commissioner, Brad Avakian, says an investigation found the company used its leverage over workers recruited from Thailand to impose hostile work conditions.
Brad Avakian: "What we were hearing where lower pay, being forced to work through rest periods. Being forced to take work home without being paid. The fear of being deported and that all of these things were not being imposed upon U.S. citizens who were employees."
A hearing in front of an administrative law judge is expected. The agency has yet to file formal charges or outline what remedies it's seeking.
Avakian is running for the seat of Congressman David Wu.
Calls to Typhoon’s head offices in Tigard and its attorney, were not immediately returned.
