Student workers at Hershey facility win back wages

(AP) Three companies have agreed in a federal settlement to pay back wages to hundreds of foreign students for summer jobs they held at a Hershey candy company facility in Pennsylvania.

Lemoyne-based SHS Group, Ohio-based Exel Inc. and California-based Council for Educational Travel USA agreed to pay $213,000 in back wages to 1,000 students who held summer jobs repackaging candy. The Hershey Co. owns the facility but wasn't accused of wrongdoing because Exel operated it.

The U.S. Department of Labor said Wednesday the three companies overcharged the students for housing, reducing their wages below what they were supposed to be paid. It says the settlement provides fines for two of the companies.

Exel agreed to pay $143,000 in fines for excessive workplace noise. SHS was fined $5,000 for other violations.