### INTHE UNI TED S TATESCOU RT OFAPPEALS FORTHE FIFTH CIRCU IT

N o. 07- 30942
DANI EL CAS TE LLANOS- CONTRERA S ; OS CAR RI CARDO DEHEZ AO RT EG A; RO D O LFO AN TO N I O VA LD EZ- BA EZ P l ai n t i f fs - A pp el l ees v. D E C A T U R H O T E L S L L C ; F P A T R IC KQ U IN N , III D efen d a n ts - A p p ell a n ts

A pp ealf

rom t h e U n i t ed S t ates D i st ri ctC ou rt f ort he E as t er n D i st r i c tof Loui si ana
B ef ore JO N E S , C h i ef

Ju dg e, an d JO L L Yan d H AY N E S , C i rcui tJu dg es . E
. G R A D YJO L L Y , C i rcui tJu dg e: T h e p e tit io n fo rp a n e l re h e a r in gis G R A N T E D
. T h e p r io ro p in io n is W IT H D R A W N , an dthe f oll ow i n g o p i n i on rep l a ces it
. T h e af t erm ath of

H u rri can e K atr i n a requ i red N ew O rl ean s hotel i er D e c at urH o t e l s , L. L. C. ( “ D e c at u r” ) to l oo k t o f o r e i gn s o ur c e s o f

l ab o r . A gr o up o f th e s e e m p lo y e e s (c o lle c tiv e ly , th e “g u e s t w o r k e r s ”), w h o h e ldH -2 B v is a s w h ile w o r ki ng f

o rD e c at ur , c o nt e nd t hatD e c at urv i o l at e d t he F ai rLab o rSt and ar ds A ct( “ F L S A” ) by pa yi n g t h em l ess t h an m i n i m u m w a g e , free an d cl ear, w h en D ecat u r ref

u sed t o rei m bu rse t h em f or recr u i t m en t , t ran sport ati on , a n d v isa United States Court of App eals

Fifth Circuit 

### F I L E D Jul y 21, 2009 Cha rl es R. F ulb ru g e II I ClerkN o. 07- 30942

Th e term“H-2 Bvis a” refersto avis aauthoriz edb y8U .S .C
. § 1 1 0 1 (a)( 1 5)(H)(ii)(b). 1 2 exp en ses t h at t h ey i n curred b e fore rel ocat i n g t o t h e U n i t ed S t ates t o w ork f or D e c a tu r . D e c at urf

i l e d am o t i o n t o di s m i s s and/o r f o r s um m ar y j udg m e nt , andt he gu estw orkers f

i l ed a cross

- m ot i on fo r s u m m ary j u dg m en t . Th e di st ri ctcourt den i ed D ecat u r’ s m ot i on, gr ant e d the g uestw orkers’m ot i on i n part, an d cert i f i ed i t s or der f

o r inter l ocutory appea l
. Am ot i on s pan elof t h i s c ou rtau t h ori zed D ec at ur t o f

i l e a n i nt er l oc ut or y appe al
. I n t hi s i nt er l oc ut or y appe alunder 28 U
. S
. C
. § 12 9 2 (b), D eca tu r raises th r e e issu es o f fi rst i m p ress i on f or th i s cou rt: w het her , under t he FL SA , an em pl oye rm ustr ei m burs e g uestw or ker s f or( 1) recr u i t m en texpen ses, ( 2) t ran sport ati on exp en ses, or ( 3) vi sa exp en ses, w h i ch th e g u e s t w o r k e r s in c u r r e db e fo r e re lo c a tin gto th e e m p lo y e r ’ s lo c a tio n . W e concl u de that t h e F L S Adoes not r equ i re an em pl oyer to rei m bu rse an y of t h ese exp en ses. W e t h eref ore r ev e rs e th e di st ri ctcourt ’ s or der, an d w e render ju d g m e n t in fa v o ro f D e c a tu r . I. D ecat u r operat es l u xu ry hotel s i n t h e N ew O rl ean s area. B ef ore H urr i c ane K at r i na st r uck N ew O r l eans , D ec at ur em pl oye d bet w ee n 600 and 650 w o r k e rs . A fterH u rr ica n e K a trin a str u ck N e w O rle a n s, th e size of D e c a t u r ’s st af f dr opped t o b et w ee n 90 and 110 w or ker s. D ec at ur a t t em pt ed t o r ec r ui tl oc al r e s i de nt s t o j o i n i t s s t af f, but i t s e f

f o r t s w e r e l ar ge l y uns uc c e s s f ul
. D ecat ur u rgentl y n eeded t o hi re m ai n t en an ce, hou sekeep i n g, an d f ront- desk em pl oyees. V ir g in ia P ic k e r in g , aB a to n R o u g e b u s in e s s w o m a n , r e a d a n e w s a r tic le t hatm e nt i o ne d D e c at ur ’ s s t af f s ho r t ag e . Pi c ke r i ng o w ne d a nd o pe r at e d Ac c e nt Per s o nne lSe r vi c e s , I nc . , ac o m pan y t hatg ui de d U. S. e m pl o ye r s t hr o ugh t he process of

becom i n g H

- 2B vi sa spon sors . A s H

- 2B v i sa sp on sors , t h e em pl oyers 1 le g a llyco u ldh ir e fo r e ig n w o r k e r s to fill te m p o r a r yjo b p o s itio n s .N o. 07- 30942

3 P i ckeri n g ad ver tise d A ccent P ersonn el ’ s s ervi ces t o D ecat u r’ s c h i ef e xe c ut ive o f

f i c e r , F. Pat r i c k Qui nn I I I
. Pi c ke r i ng o f fe r e d t o g ui de D e c at ur t hro ugh t he H

- 2B appl i c at i on pr oc es s, t o o ver se e t he r ec r ui t m entof H

- 2B w ork ers, an dto coord i n a te the w ork ers’ a r r iv a lti m es in th e U n i ted S tates. If D e c at urw e r e t o us e Pi c ke r i ng’ s s e r vi c e s , i tw o ul d ne e d o nl y t o s upp l y Pi c ke r i ng w ith in fo r m a tio n th a t sh e w o u ld n e e d to c o m p le te D e c a tu r ’ s H -2 B s p o n s o r s h ip a pp l i cat i on , t o payH

- 2B spon sors h i p-app l i cat i on fees, an d to m eeti t s new e m pl o ye e s w he n t he y ar r ive d i n N e w O r l e ans . P i cker i ng w o ul d d o e ve r yt hi ng el se necessary t o sec u re t h e tem porary w orkers f or D ecat u r. F or t h ese s ervi ces, P ic k e r in gw o u ldch a r g e D e c a tu r$ 3 0 0 p e rjo b p o s itio n fille d
. Q u i n n agreed that D ecat u r w ou l d u se Pic keri n g’ s s ervi ces t o hi re ho us e ke e pe r s , m ai nt e nanc e w o r ke r s , and f r o nt
- de s k c l e r ks ; and Pi c ke r i ng w e nt t o w o r k. She i de nt i f i e d t he w ag e ra t e atw hi c h D e c at urw o ul d ne e d t o pa y t he h ou sek ee p ers, m a i n ten a n ce w ork ers, a n d fron t- d esk cl erk s to com p l y w i th D e pa r t m e nto f

Lab o rr e gul at i o ns . She e ns ur e d t hatD e c at urr e c r ui t e d U. S. c i t i ze ns t o f

i l li t s ope n j ob pos i t i ons be f or e o f fer i ng t he s am e po si t i ons t o f or ei gn w orkers. Sh e prepa red D ecat u r’ s app l i cat i on t o spon sor H

- 2B v isa s. Sh e al so prepa red, an d a D ecat u r m an ager si gn ed, a bl an k j ob of fer f or each op en j ob p o s itio n . U nbe kno w ns tt o D eca t ur , Pi c ke r i ng al s o o w ne d a nd o pe r at e d as e c o nd c o m pa ny: VP C o ns ul t ant s , LLC
. Thr o ugh VP Cons ul t ant s , Pi c ke r i ng o f fe r e d a s e r vi c e t hatc o nne c t e d wi t h he rs e r vi c e s a tAc c e ntPe r s o nne l : a f t e ri de nt i f

yi ng U
. S
. em pl oyers ( such as D ecat u r) t h at w ere s pon sori n g H

- 2B vi sas, she provi ded t hi s i nf or m at i on, f

ora f ee , t o recrui t m entc om pani es t hatr epr es ent ed f or ei gn w o r ke r s s e e ki ng t e m po r ar y U
. S. e m pl o ym e nt . I n e xc hang e f o r$ 90 0 pe rD e c at ur j ob pos i t i on, or“ r ef

er r al , ” V P C ons ul t ant s i nf or m ed G l obalS ervi c es , Inc
. , of 70 ho t e l

- c l e r k p o s i t i o n s ; Eu r o USA, I n c . , o f 7 0 h o u s e k e e p i n g p o s i t i o n s ; a nd In te r n a tio n a l J o b s & S tu d ie s S .A .C . o f 1 3 0 m a in te n a n c e p o s itio n s .N o. 07- 30942

The part ie srefer tothese fe es altern ativelyas “recruitment expenses” and “hiring 2 expen se s.” Wewillref erto the fe esa s “recruit me nt expe n se s.” For b revity , we will refer to the tran sportation expenses nece ssaryto relocateto the 3 UnitedS tate s a s “tr an sp ortationexpe n se s” or“inboun d tr an sp ortationexpe n se s.” Th es e shorth and references in no way describ e the expenses nece ssaryto travel daily from home to work
. S uchexpe n se s arenotb ef ore u s inthisc a se .

4 Al t ho ugh VP C o ns ul t ant s g e ne r at e d r even u e b y i nf o r m i ng r e c r ui t m e nt com pa n i es of

D ecat u r’ s j ob posi t i on s, P i ckeri n g t est i f i ed t h at s h e al so had been w i l l i n g t o sha re i n f

orm ati on abou t D ecat u r’ s j ob posi t i on s w i t h f orei gn w orkers w ho co nt ac t e d V P Cons ul t ant s di r e c t l y. H o w e ve r , t he r e i s no i ndi c at i o n i n t he recor d that such contact s oc curred or t h at, given t h e f orei gn w orkers’ c i r c um st ance s, s uch c ont ac t s w er e pos sibl e. I t al so i s uncl earw hatfee , i f any, V P C ons ul t ant s w o ul d ha ve c har ge d t he w o r ke r s t o r e c e ive i nf o r m at i o n a bo ut D ecat u r’ s j ob posi t i on s. In the ory , th e gu est w ork ers a l so cou l dh a ve co n tacted D eca tu r d i rectly to l earn abou tD ecat u r’ s j ob posi t i on s; D ecat u r w ou l d h ave referred such i n qu i ri es t o Pi c ker i ng. N o g uest w or kerc ont ac t ed D ec at ur di r ec t l y, and i ti s uncl ear w h e th e rs u c h co n ta c t w o u ldh a v e b e e n fe a s ib le
. N ever t he l e ss, each w orker hi red a recr u i t m en tcom pa n y t o l ocat e H

- 2B j ob opp ort u n i t i es on h i s o r h e r b e h al f, t o gu i de h i m or h er t h rough t h e H

- 2B vi sa ap pl i cat i on process , an d to arran ge t ran sport ati on t o t h e U n i t ed S t ates. E ach r ecru i tm en t com p a n y ch a rg ed be tw ee n $1 , 7 0 0 an d$2 , 0 0 0 f or it s serv i ces. In 2 a d d itio n to th is fe e , e a c h re c r u itm e n t c o m p a n y r e q u i r e dw o r k e r s to p a yth e ir ow n visa-ap p l i ca ti on fee s a s w ellas a l ltran sp orta ti on ex p en ses n ece ssa ryto rel ocat e t o t h e U n i t ed S t ates. A l t og e th e r, each gu estw orker pai d betw een 3 ap pr o xi m at e l y $3 , 00 0 anda p p r o xi m at e l y $5 , 00 0 i n r e c r ui t m e nt , t r ans po r t at i o n, an d vi sa expen ses bef ore r el ocat i n g t o t h e U n i t ed S t ates. W he n t h e gue s tw o r ke r s a r r ive d i n N e w O r l e ans , D e c at urc o nduc t e d a w eek-l on g ori en t ati on ses si on , f or w h i ch i tpaid t h e w orkers; a n d t h e gu estN o. 07- 30942

5 w or ker s bega n t o w or k. D ec at ur pai d t he gues t w or ker s w hom i thi r ed t hro ugh G l obalSer vi c es , I nc. , $6. 09 pe rhour , t he gues tw or ker s w hom i th i r ed t hro ugh E uro U SA , I nc. , $6. 02 pe rhour , and t he gu est w or ker s w hom i thi r ed t hro ugh I nt e r nat i o nalJ o bs & St udi e s S. A. C. $ 7. 79 pe rho ur . As w e hav e s ai d, D e c at ur di d n otrei m bu rse t h e gu estw orkers f or t h ei r r ecru itm e n t , t ran sport ati on , or vi sa expen ses, a l lof w h i ch t h ey i n curred bef ore r el ocat i n g t o t h e U n i t ed S t ates. T h e g u e s t w o r k e r s , p r o c e e d in gu n d e rth e F L S A , file da co m p la in t in federaldi st ri ctcourts e e k in gto r ecover t h ese expen ses, as w el las l i qu i da t ed da m ag e s , c o s t s , a nd a t t o r ne y’ s fe e s . Dec at urde fe nde d o n gr o u n d s t hatt he FLSA d oe s n ot ob l i ga te i t to reim b u rse t h e gu est w ork ers f or t h eir re cru i tm en t, t ran sport ati on , or vi sa exp en ses. T o t h i s en d, D ecat u r f i l ed a m ot i on t o di sm i ss an d/or f or s u m m ary j u dg m en t ; an d th e g u estw orkers f i l ed a cross

- m ot i on f or sum m ary j u dg m en t . I n a si n gl e order, t h e di st ri ctcourtden i ed D ecat u r’ s m ot i on a n dgra n ted the gu est w ork ers’m oti on i n pa rt, i n sofaras itall ow ed th em to p r o c e e dw i t h t h e i rF L S Ac l a i m. D e c at ura s ke d t he di s t r i c tc o ur tt o c e r t i f y i t s o r de rf

o ri nt e r l o c ut ory ap pea l
. Th e d i st ri ctcourtgran t ed D ecat u r’ s m ot i on . I ti den t i f i ed, as a control l i n g i ssue of l aw as t o w h i ch there i s s u bstanti algroun d f or di f ference of opi n i on , t h e qu est i on “ w h et h er non - agri cul t u ralH

- 2B gu est w orkers are enti t l ed t o t h e prot ect i on s of

t h e F L S A
. ” Am ot i on s pan elof t h i s c ou rtt h en perm i t t ed D ecat u r t o f

i l e t h i s i n t erl ocutory appea lun der 28 U
. S
. C
. § 1292 (b)
. T h e di st ri ct c o ur t ’ s pr o c e e di ngs ha ve no tb e e n s t ay e d. II. W e f i r s tm us tco ns i de rourj ur i s di c t i o n ov e rt hi s i nt e r l o c ut o r y ap pe al
. The gue s tw o r ke r s c o nt e nd t hat w e l ac k j ur i s di c t i o n— o r , i n t he a l t e r nat ive , t hato ur j u ri sdi ct i on i s l i m i t ed t o a n sw eri n g t h e si n gl e q u est i on identi f i ed by the dis t ri ct c o u r t a s a co n tr o llin gis s u e o f la w .N o. 07- 30942

6 A m o t i o ns pa ne l ’ s de c i s i o n t o al l o w a n i nt e r l o c ut o r y ap pe ali s no tb i ndi ng u p on the pa n el t h a t su b seq u en tl y co n sider s th e a p p ea l ’ s m erits; “t h e m erits pa n elm ay con cl u de that the i n i t i aldeci si on t o hea r t h e app ealw as, or w as l ater rend ered, i m provi den t . I f t h e m eri ts p a n e lreaches t h at c on cl u si on , i tm u st va ca te the ea rl i er or d er g ra n ti n g lea ve to a p p ea l a n d m u st rem a n dthe cas e to th e d i stri ct cou rt. ” Un i t ed S t ate s v. B ear Mari n e Servs. , 696 F. 2d 1117, 1119 ( 5th C i r. 198 3)
. W e t h eref ore w i l lrevi ew th e m o t i on s pan el ’ s deci si on f or i m provi den ce. W e i ni t i al l y e xa m i n e wh e t he ro urj ur i s di c t i o n o ve rt hi s a ppe al , i f a c c e pt e d, i s l i m i t ed t o t he s i ngl e q ues t i on i dent i f i ed byt he di st r i c tc ou rt a s c ont r ol l i ng. Th e Supre m e Courthas h eld q u i te c l ear l y t hati ti s not ; 28 U
. S. C
. § 1292(b) gr ant s j uri sdi c t i on “ov er any ques t i on t hati s i ncl uded w i t hi n t he o r dert hat con tain s th e con troll i n g q u estion of l a w i d en ti fi ed bythe distri ct cou rt. ” Yam aha Mo t o rCo r

p. v . Cal ho un , 51 6 U
. S. 19 9, 20 4 ( 19 96 )
. H e r e , t he o r de rf o rw hi c h t he di st ri ctcourtcer t i f

i ed i n t erl ocutory appea lcontai n s t h ree questi on s i n add i t i on t o t he q ue s t i o n t hatt he di s t r i c tc o ur ti de nt i f i e d as con t ro l l i ng: w he t he rt he FLSAr e qui r e s a n e m pl o ye rt o r e i m b u r s e g ue s tw o r ke r s f o r : ( 1) t he i rr e c r ui t m e nt exp en ses, ( 2) t h ei r t ran sport ati on expen se s, o r ( 3) t h ei r vi sa expen ses. Cast el lan os- Con t reras v. D ec a t u r Hot els, I n c. , N o . 0 6 -4 3 4 0 , a t 2 (E .D . L a . J u ly 1 9 , 20 0 7 ) (ord er d en yin g m oti on to alt er oram en d j u d gm en t, gr a n ti n g m oti on to cert ify i n t erl ocutory appea l , an d d en yi n g m ot i on t o st ay p en di n g i n t erl ocutory a p p e a l). In th e li g h t of Yam aha , w e m ayc o ns i de r t he s e que s t i o ns as w e l la s t he t h r e s h o l d q u e s t io n w h e t h e rH -2 B g u e s tw o r k e r s a r e e n t it le dto th e F L S A ’s protec t i on s. W h e th e rth e F L S Ae n tit le s g u e s t w o r k e r s to re im b u r s e m e n t fo rth e ir r e c r ui t m e nt , t r ans po r t at i o n, o rv i s a e xp e ns e s a r e , a s w e ha ve no t e d, q ue s t i o ns of f i rsti m pressi on f

or t h i s c ou rt . W e con clu d e tha tt h ese questi on s are c o nt r o l l i ng que s t i o ns o f l aw i n t hi s c as e , as t o w hi c h t he r e i s s ubs t ant i alg r o undN o. 07- 30942

7 f or di f feren ce o f opi n i on . Th e m ot i on s pan el ’ s deci si on t o gran ti n t erl ocutory revi ew w as not i m provi den t . W e now w i l lconsi der t h e qu est i on s bef ore us. III. I n re spo nse to t he ques t i on i dent i f i ed byt he di st r i c tc our t , w e ho l d t hat g u e s t w o r k e r s a r e e n tit le dto F L S Ap r o te c tio n . S ee In reR eyes , 814 F. 2d 168, 170 (5 t h Ci r . 1 98 7) ( “ [ T] he pr o t e c t i o ns o f t he Fai rLab o rSt and ar ds Ac ta re ap pl i cabl e t o ci t i zen s a n d a li en s al i ke an d w h et h er t h e al i en i s docum en t ed or u n d ocu m en ted i s i rrelev a n t. ”)
. W h eth er th e F L S A en ti tl es g u est w ork ers to rei m b u rs e m e n t of re cr u itm e n t, tra n sp o rta tion , o r v isa ex p e n ses m erit s l en gthi er d is c u s s io n . A. The gue s tw o r ke r s c o nt e nd t hatt he y ar e en t i t l e d t o r e i m bur s e m e nt becau se, un der 29 U
. S
. C
. § 203(m ) , t h e expen ses t h ey in cu rr e d are d e fa cto deduct i ons f

r om c as h w ages r ec eived f ort hei rf

i rst w ee k of

w or k, l eavi ng a bal ance ow ed t hem by D ec at ur. I n ot her w or ds, t hey l i ken t hes e e xpens es (i n an i n verse w ay) t o em pl oyer- f u rni shed “ faci l i t i es, ” such a s r oom a n d board , w h i ch t he e m pl oye rm ay d edu ctf rom an em pl oyee’ s w a g e s; o n l y h ere, t h e gu est w ork ers co n ten dtha t D eca tu r m u st rei m bu rset h em f or expen ses t h at t h ey in c u r r e db e fo r e th e irfir s t w o r k w e e k b e g a n . S ect i on 2 03( m ) de f

i ne s w ag e s a s c as h o r“ t he r e as o nab l e c o s t. . . t o t he em pl oyer of

f ur ni s hi ng[th e ] e m p lo y e e w ith b o a r d , lo d g in g , o ro th e rfa c ilitie s , if such board, l odg i n g, or o th e r faci l i t i es are custom ari l y f u rni shed by such e m p lo y e r to h is e m p lo y e e s .” (E m p h a s is a d d e d .) Th e pr ovi si on’ s pl ai n l anguage th u s p e r m its e m p lo y e r s fle x ib ilityin t h e m e t h o do f p a y in ge m p lo y e e s . T h is sect i on of

t h e F L S A , contr ary t o t h e gu estw orkers’sugg est i on , does not i m pose lia b ilityu p o n e m p lo y e r s fo re x p e n s e s th a t e m p lo y e e s in c u r . S ee D onov an v. Mi l ler Props. , I

n c. , 7 1 1 F
. 2 d4 9 , 5 0 ( 5 t h C i r . 1 9 8 3 ) ( p e rc u r i a m) ( “ [ S ] e c t i o n 3 ( m) o f t h e F a i r L a b o r S t a n d a r d s A c t , 2 9 U
. S
. C
. § 2 0 3 ( m) , . . . a llow s a n emp loy ertoN o. 07- 30942

8 cr ed itt ow ard i t s obli gati on to p ay the m i n i m u m w age ‘ t h e reasonab l e cos t. . . of fu r n is h in g[a n ] e m p lo y e e w ith b o a r d , lo d g in g , o ro th e rfa c ilitie s ’
. . . .”) (e m p h a s is ad de d)
. Se c t i o n 203(m ) p rov i de s no g r o und f o rD e c at urt o ha ve v i o l at e d t he F L S Abyrefu singto re i m b u rse th e g u est w ork ers for recru i tm en t, t r ans po r t at i o n, a nd v i s a e xp e ns e s t hatt he y i nc ur r e d. B. W e t h u s t u rn to t h e argu m en tt h at D e ca tu r’ s fai l u re t o payt h ese pree m p lo y m e n t e x p e n s e s e n c u m b e r e dth e g u e s t w o r k e r s ’w a ge s, so th a t D eca tu rd id n ot p a y th e w a ge s “f i n a l l y a n du n con d i ti on a l l y o r ‘ free a n dcl ea r’”: W het heri n ca sh o ri n fac ili t i es , “ w ages ” c annotbe c o ns i de r e d t o ha ve b e e n pa i d b y t he em pl o ye ra nd r e c e iv e db yth e e m p lo y e e u n le s s th e y a r e p a idfin a lly and un c ondi t i onal l y o r“ f r ee and c l ea r. ” Th e w age r e qui r e m e nt s o f

t he Ac tw i l lno tb e m e tw he r e t he e m pl o ye e “ ki c ks

- ba c k” di r e c t l y o ri ndi r e c t l y t o t he e m p lo y e ro rto a n o th e rp e r s o n fo rth e e m p lo y e r ’ s be n e fit t h e w h ol e or pa rtof

t h e w age d el ivered to t h e em pl oyee. T h i s i s t rue w h et h er t h e “ kic k-back” i s m ad e in cash or i n o t he rt han c as h. Forex am pl e , i f i ti s a r e quir e m e nt of t h e em pl oyer t h at t h e em pl oyee m u st provi de t ool s of th e tr a d e w h ic h w i l lb e u s e din o ra r e s p e c ific a lly r e q u ir e dfo rth e p e r fo r m a n c e o f t h e e m p lo y e r ’s p a r tic u la rw o r k , t h e r e w o u ldb e a v io la tio n o f th e A c t in any w or kw ee k w hen t he c os t of suc h t oo l s purc hase d by t h e em pl oyee cuts i n t o t h e m i n i m u m or overt i m e w ages req u i red to be pa i dh i m u n d er th e A ct. 29 C. F. R
. § 531. 35. T h e a bove-quoted regulat i on d oes n otdef i n e w h en an em pl oyee- i n curred expe nse c ons t i t ut es a ki c k- bac k. O u r p rec ede nt s, how eve r , c l ar i f y t hatan e m pl oyer- i m posed condit i on of em pl oym en ti s a ki ck- back i f i t“ t en d[s ] t o sh ift p a rt of the em p l oy er’ s bu sine ss ex p en se to th e em p l oy e e s . ” Mayh u e’ s Super L i qu or Stor es, I

n c. v. Hodgson , 4 6 4 F .2 d1 1 9 6 , 1 1 9 9 (5 th C ir . 1 9 7 2 ).N o. 07- 30942

9 W e now consi der w h et h er, un der 29 C
. F
. R
. § 531 . 35, the gu estw orkers are en t i t l ed t o r e i m bur s e m e nto f t h ei r r ecrui t m en t , t ran sport ati on , or vi sa expen ses.

1. W e b e g in w ith th e v is a e x p e n s e s . A lth o u g h § 5 3 1 .3 5 d o e s n o t s p e c ific a lly a d dress em pl oyers’obl i gati on t o rei m bu rse gu estw orkers f or t h ese expen ses, ot h er r egu l ati on s cl ari f y t h at em pl oyee- pa i d expen ses t o obtai n H

- 2B vi sas m ore p r o p e r l yb e lo n gto th e g u e s t w o r k e rth a n to th e e m p lo y e r . S ee2 2 C
. F. R. §§ 40. 1( l) ( 1) (requ i ri n g n on i m m i gran t vi sa ap pl i can t s, such as t h e gu estw orkers h ere, t o subm i tprocess i n g fees w h en t h ey ap pl y f or vi sa s). T h e e x pen se of ap pl yi n g t o becom e a spon sori n g em pl oyer of H

- 2B em pl oyees, by contrast , m ore p r o p e r ly b e lo n g s to th e e m p lo y e r . S ee 8 C
. F
. R
. §§ 103 .7(a ), 1 0 3 .7 (b )(1 ), 2 1 4 .2 (h )(2 )(i)(A ) (r e q u ir in g , coll ectively, th a t a U .S . e m p lo y e rs u b m it cert ai n f

orm s and f

i l i n gfe es t o becom e an H

- 2B vi sa spon sor)
. Th ese r egul at i ons , w hi c h ass i gn H

- 2B vi sa pro c es si ng f ee s t o vi saappl i c ant s and H

- 2B spon sors h i p-app l i cat i on fees t o em plo y e rs , show t h at r equ i ri n g t h e gu est w o r k e r s to b e a r t h e v is a e x p e n s e s a t is s u e d id n o tte n dto s h if tp a r to f D e c a t u r ’s bus i ne s s e xp e ns e t o t he g ue s tw o r ke r s . W e ho l d t hatD e c at urhas n o FLSA r e s po ns ibi l i t y t o rei m bur s e t he g ue s tw o r ke r s f o rt he v i s a e xp e ns e s t hatt he e m pl o ye e s i nc ur r e d. 2. W e ne xtc o ns i de rt he t r ans po r t at i o n e xp e ns e s . Fo rm anyy e ar s , t he D epar t m entof

Labor i nt er pre t ed t he FL SA and i t s i m pl em ent i ng r egul at i ons as requ i ri n g em pl oyers t o bear gu estw orkers’i n bou n d tr an sport ati on expen ses. S eeW age & H ourD iv. O p. Lt r . , 1990 D O LW H LE X I S 1, a t *3 (Ju n e 2 7, 1990) ( “ U n der t h e F L S A , ith as a l w ays been the posi t i on of the D epa rt m en tof L abor t h at no de duc t i o n, t hat c ut s i nt o t he m i ni um w ag e , m ay be m ad e for t r anspo r t at i on o f

w or ker s from t he poi ntof hi r e a nd re t urn t o t hat po i nt. . . . [ S] uc h t r ansportat i o n c o s t s [ ar e ] pr i m ar i l y f o rt he b e ne f

i to f t heN o. 07- 30942

10 e m pl o ye r . ” )
. The a ge nc y, ho w e ve r , ha s c al l e d t hi s i nt e r pr e t at i o n i nt o q ue s t i o n. S ee L a b o r Cer tifi ca tion Pro ce ss a n dE nfor ce m en t for T emp o ra ry E mp loy m en t in O ccupa t i on s O t h er T h an Agri cult u re or R egi st ere d Nu rsi ng i n t h e Un i t ed S t ate s ( H –2B W orkers ), an d O t h er T

echn i calCh anges , 73 F ed. R eg. 780 20, 780 41 (D ec. 1 9 , 2 0 0 8 ) (“[ T ]h e co s t[] o f r e lo c a tio n to th e s ite o f th e jo b o p p o r tu n ityg e n e r a lly i s not an ‘ i n ci den t ’of an H

- 2B w orker’ s em pl oym en tw i t h i n t h e m e a n in g of 2 9 C F R 5 3 1 .3 2 , a n dis n o t p rim a rilyforth e b e n e fit o f th e H -2 B em p loy e r.”); Wi t hdr awalof

I nt erpre t at i o n of

t heFai rLab o rSt anda r ds Ac tConc e r ni ng R elocat i on Expen ses Incurred by H

- 2A an dH

- 2B W orkers , 74 Fed. R eg. 13261, 1 3 2 6 2 (M a r . 2 6 , 2 0 0 9 ) ( “ DO L b e l i e v e s t h a tt h i s i s s u e wa r r a n t s f u r t h e rr e v i e w. Cons e que nt l y . . . D O L w i t hdr aws t he [ D e c e m be r1 9, 2 00 8, ] FLSA i nt er pre t at i on . . . f

orf urt herc ons i der at i on and th e i nt er pre t at i on m ay notbe r e l i e d u p o n a s a s ta te m e n t o f a g e n c yp o lic y. . . .” (fo o tn o te o m itt e d )); s e e also D eL u n a -G u e r r e r o v . N.C . G r o w e r ’s A s s ’n , 3 3 8 F
. S u p p . 2 d 64 9, 659 ( E. D. N. C. 200 4 ) ( “ [ T] he i s s ue [ o f a n e m p l o y e r ’ s l i a b i l i t y f o r t r a ns p o r t a t i o n e x p e ns es ] has be e n und e rr e vi e w b y t he D O L.
. . . D O L’ s po l i c y r e ga r di ngd e f act o de duc t i o ns [o f tr a n s p o r ta tio n e x p e n s e s ] is a n y th in gb u t c le a r .”); R i v e r a v . Bri c km an Gr o up, Lt d. , 2 00 8 U
. S. D i s t . LEX I S 1 16 7, a t* 37
- 39 ( E. D
. Pa. J an. 7, 2 008) ( “ The D eL u n a-G u errero courtref u sed t o rel y on t h e opi n i on l et t ers becau se i tbel i eved t he D epartm entof

Labor ’ s pos i t i on t o b e t oo uncl ear . I agr ee , and i n so doi ng, I no t e t hatt he D e pa r t m e nto f Lab o r ’ s po s i t i o n i s no tm e r el y u n cl e ar , b ut unt e nab l e . * * * G ive n t he a ppa r ent( andno w m o r e t han t hi r t e e n- ye ar - o l d) i n coh e rence at t h e D epa rt m en tof L abor w i t h regard t o t h i s i ssue, I am not pe r s uad e d t hatI s ho ul d a c c o r d t he o l de ro pi ni o n l e t t e r s a ny s i gnif i c antw e i ght [ u n der Aue rv. Rob bi ns , 519 U
. S
. 452 ( 199 7) , or S ki d m ore v. S w if t& Co. , 323 U .S . 1 3 4 (1 9 4 4 )].”)
. W e agree w i t h t h e R i veracou rt t h a t A u er defer en ce t o t h e D O L ’ s ol der i n t erpret ati on seem s i n ap propri ate. F u rt h erm ore, i n asm u ch as t h e D O L nev erN o. 07- 30942

The gu est workers contend, under Rivera , that the Immigration and NationalityAct 4 has no bearin g on theseFLSA issues. We find Riveraunhelpfulfor thi s point. The courtthere assumed

th at the FLSAr equired employers torei mburseguest workers forinbound tr an sp ortationexpe n se s. See 200 8 U .S. Dist. L EXI S 1 167 , at*8 -9. From this a ssumption , it co n si dere d onlywheth er8U .S .C
. § 1 1 8 4 (c)( 5)( A ) conflicts with and

overrides the FL SA
. See id. at*9 -10. Wecon sider the antecede nt que stion whether the FL SA requires an employer to reimb urse gu est workers for inb oun d tran sportation expenses. B ecau se we concludeth at it does not, we do not reach Rivera’s question and do not find that ca se helpful in answeringthe qu es tionb ef

ore u s. 11 f u l l y exp l ai n ed w h y i tadop t ed that i n t erpret ati on i n t h e f i rstpl ace, w e agree w i th the E l ev en th C i rcu i t t h a t S ki d m ored e fe r e n c e s e e m s in a p p r o p r ia te . S ee A r r i agav . Fla . Pa c . F a r ms , 305 F
. 3d 122 8, 123 9 ( 1 1 th C i r. 200 2) ( “ B ecau se of t hi s l ac k of

ex pl anat i on, i tis i m pos sibl e t o w ei gh t he ‘val i di t y o f i t s r eas oni ng’ ort he ‘ t hor oughness [] i n i t s c ons i der at i on. ’” ( quot i ng S ki d m ore , 323 U
. S. at140) ( al t erat i on i n ori gi n al) )
. R el yi n g on case l aw t h at defers t o t h e i n t erpret ati on si m i l arl y see m s inap propri ate, an d thu s w e can accord no w ei gh tt o t h e gu est w orkers’ ci t ed authori t i es s u ch as Ma rs h a llv . G la s s b o r o S e r v ic eA s s ’n , 1 97 9 U
. S. D i s t . LE XI S 90 53 , at * 6 ( D
. N
. J. O c t . 19 , 1 97 9) ; a nd T orre blan ca v. Naa s Food s, In c ., 1 9 8 0 U .S
. D ist. L E X IS 1 3 8 9 3 , a t *1 3 (N .D
. In d
. F e b
. 2 5 , 1 9 8 0 ). As i s the c as e w it h v i sa expen ses, t h e regul ati on add ress i n g em pl oyer ki ckback s does not speci f y w h et h er an H

- 2B gu estw orker’ s i n bou n d tr an sport ati on exp en ses bel on g m ore properl y t o t h e em pl oyer or t o t h e gu estw orker. O t h er s ta tu to r ya n dre g u la to r yp r o v is io n s m a yg u id e th is d e te r m in a tio n . Tw o pr o vi s i o ns ha ve s o m e r e l e va nc e . U nde rthe Im m i gr at i o n a nd N ati on al i t y A ct , an H

- 2B gu estw orker’ s o ut bo undt ran sport ati on expen ses s o m e tim e s b e lo n gt o t h e e m p lo y e r . S ee 8 U .S .C
. § 1 1 8 4 (c)(5 )(A). U nde rU
. S. 4 Ci t i z e n shi p a nd I m m i gr at i o n Se r vi c e r e gul at i o ns , a n H

- 2A agri cul t u ralgu est w orker’ s i n bou n d tr an sport ati on expen ses som et i m es bel on g t o t h e em pl oyer. S ee 2 0 C
. F
. R
. § 65 5 . 1 0 2 (b)( 5 )(i). N o pro visi on , h ow ev er, req u i res a n em p l oy er to bear an H

- 2B gu est w orker’ s i n bou n d t ran sport ati on exp en ses. W e f i n d si l en ceN o. 07- 30942

Furthermore , D ecatur’s circu mstance s differ substantiallyfrom thosetri ggerin g an 5 em plo yer’sliability un der 8 U.S .C. § 1184(c) (5) (A) . Section 1184(c) (5) (A) ensur esthat an earlydismissed guest worker h as the means to leave the United State s. Such circu mstance s arenot relevant here
. 12 i n t h i s con t e xti ndi c at ive t hatCong r e s s m o s tl i ke l y di d no ti nt e nd f o rt he em pl oyer t o bear H

- 2B gu estw orkers’i n bou n d tr an sport ati on expen ses. 5 T h e g u e s t w o r k e r s d o c it e t w o c a s e s w h ic h , w it h o u t r e ly in g o n t h e D O L ’s n ow - u n cl earFLSAi nt e rpret ati on , hol d that em pl oyers m u stbear gu estw orkers’ in b o u n dtr a n s p o r ta tio n e x p e n s e s . S ee A r r i aga , 305 F
. 3d at 1 244 ( 11th C i r. 2 0 0 2 ); R i vera , 2 0 0 8 U
. S
. D i st. L E X IS 1 1 6 7 , a t * 4 2 -4 4 . Arr i agai nvolves H

- 2A gue s t w o r k e r s . I th o l d s t h a te m p l o y e r s mus tb e a rg u e s two r k e r s ’i n b o u nd t ran sport ati on expen ses becau se t h e expen ses are “ i n ci den tof an d n ecess ary t o” th e g u e s t w o r k e r s ’e m p lo y m e n t. S ee 30 5 F. 3d at 12 41
- 44 . W e f i nd A r r i aga di st i n gu i sha bl e i n sofar as i t s an al ysi s d erives fr om the case’ s H

- 2A , as opposed to H -2 B , o r ig in s . A r r i agaa l s o i s di s t i ngu i s hab l e b e c ause it s “ i nc i de nto f a nd nec es sa r y t o” s t andard o r i gi nat es f r om 29 C. F. R
. § 531. 32 i nst ead o f § 531. 35. Se c t i o n 53 1. 32 i m pl e m e nt s 29 U
. S. C. § 20 3( m ) ; and , as w e hav e sai d, our D o no v an p r e c e d e n t f r o m 1 9 8 3 i n f

o r ms u s t h a t , u n d e rF i f t h C i r c u i tl a w , § 2 0 3 ( m) im p o s e s n o o b lig a tio n o n e m p lo y e r s to b e a r em p l oy ee -in cu r r e de x p e n s e s . W e w ill n o tf o l l o w A r r i aga . R i verae s s e n t i a l l yd o e s f o l l o w A r r i aga , a lb e it in th e H -2 B co n te x t. R i vera quo t e s 2 9 C. F. R. § 5 31 . 35 atl e ngt h, 2 00 8 U
. S. D i s t . LEX I S 1 16 7, a t* 36
- 37 , b ut u l t i m a t e l yd e c i d e s t h e i s s u e o f t r a n s p o r t a t i o n e x p e n s e s u n d e r2 9 U. S
. C. § 2 0 3 (m ): “po i n t- of- h i re tra n sp orta ti on i s p ri m a ri l y for th e em p l oy er’ s be n efi t, both becau se i ti s di ssi m i l ar t o l odg i n g an d boa rd, an d beca u se t h e expen se ar i se s outof

B r i c km an’ s dec i sion a ct ively t o r ec r ui tw or ker s i n f or ei gn cou n tri es.” I

d. at * 43 . W e do no tne c e s s ar i l y ag r e e w i t h R i v e r a th a t A r r i aga ’s reasoni n g extend s s o readi l y f rom H

- 2A gu est w orkers t o H

- 2B gu estw orkers.N o. 07- 30942

B ec au sewehol d th at the FL SA doe s notobligateDecatur torei mb urs e the gu es t 6 workers fortheir tran sportation expenses, we donot consi der Decatur’s argu ment in the alternative th at, even if the FLSA otherwise purports to obligate rei mburse ment, the Portalto- Port al Act andImmigr atio n and Nationality Act neverthel es s bar re covery. 13 In a n ye v e n t, D o no v an f ore cl ose s us f

r om f ol l ow i ng R i vera ’ s § 203 ( m )

- based a n a l y s i s . J u s ta s we wi l ln o tf o l l o w A r r i aga , we wi l ln o tf o l l o w R i vera . O n the au th oriti es b efore u s, w e h old th a t t h e F L S Ado es n ot ob l i ga te D ecat u r t o rei m bu rse i t s guest w orkers f or t h ei r i n bou n d tr an sport ati on exp en ses. 6 3. F i n a l l y, w e con siderw h eth er th e F L S Aob l i ga tes D eca tu r to reim b u rse it s gue s tw o r ke r s f

o rt he e xp e ns e s t hatt he y i nc ur r e d wi t h f o r e i gn r e c r ui t m e nt co m pa ni e s . The FLSA ’ s pr o vi s i o ns do no t r e qui r e r e i m bur s e m e nt o f t h ese e m p lo y e e -in c u r r e de x p e n s e s . S ee29 U
. S. C
. § 201 etse q . N e it h e rd o th e F L S A ’s i m pl em en t i n g regulat i on s— u n l ess t h e ex p e n ses w ere “kic k-backs” t o D ecat u r. S ee2 9 C .F .R . § 5 3 1 .3 5 . W e ho l d that the rec r ui t m e nte xp e ns e s w e r e no tki c k- ba c ks w i t hi n t he m ean i n g of

§ 531. 35. T h e ex pen ses dif fered i n al lf

u n da m en t alcharacter i st i cs fr o m th e e x p e n s e s th a t o u rco u r t h a s la b e le dk ic k -b a c k s . S ee Mayh u e’ s Super L i qu or Stor es, I

n c. v. Hodgson , 464 F
. 2d 119 6, 119 9 ( 5 th C ir
. 197 2) ( ded u ct i on f rom cashi ers’w ages to pa y f or every s h ort age i n em pl oyer cash- register a c c o u n ts , re g a r d le s s o f th e re a s o n fo rth e s h o r ta g e ); B re nnan v . Ve t e r ans C le a n ingS e r v ., Inc. , 482 F. 2d 1362, 137 0 (5th Ci r . 1973) ( em pl oye e’ s w age d e d u ctio n infa v o r o f e m p loy e r to r e co v e r th e c o st o f a w re ck e dco m p a n ytru ck ). T h e expen ses w ere not t reat ed as an em pl oyer obl i gati on by custom or practi ce of D eca tu r’ s i n d u stry. In su m , the re is no ba sis i n cu stom , pr a cti ce, o r la w to in c lu d e th e re c r u itm e n t e x p e n s e s a s p a r t o f D e c a tu r ’ s b u s in e s s e x p e n s e .N o. 07- 30942

This regulationdoe s not prohib it an H-2B vi sa spon sor fro m requiring guest workers 7 to payf ortran sp ortationan d vis aexpe n se s. See8 C.F.R. § 2 14.2 (h)(6)(i)(B) (excepting from its prohibition of worker -incurred expenses “thelower of the actu al cost or fair market value of transportation to such employment and anygovernme nt-man dated passport, vi sa, or inspectionfee s, to the extent that the passin g of such costs to the benefici ary[guest worker] is not prohibite d bystatute, unless the e mployer, a ge nt, facilit at or , recruiter, or si milar em ployme nt servic e h a s a gre edwithth e b enef iciaryth at itwillp aysuchc os tsan d fe es”)
. 14 O u r at t en t i on , how ever, ha s been brou gh tt o t w o rel ativel y n ew r e gul at i o ns t hatf

o rt he f i r s tt i m e addr e s s unsc r upul o us pr ac t i c e s i n r e c r ui t i ng w or ker s t o par t i c i pat e i n t he H

- 2B vi sapr ogr am . E ffectiv e J anuary 1 8, 2009, t h e D epa rt m en tof

L abor requ i res an em pl oyer seeki n g H

- 2B l abor cert i f i cat i on to a ttestt h at “ [ t ] h e em pl oyer ha s c on t ract u al l y f orbi dd en an y f

orei gn l abor c o nt r ac t o ro rr e c r ui t e rw ho m t he em pl o ye reng ag e s i n i nt e r nat i o nalr e c r ui t m e nt o f H

- 2B w o r ke r s t o s e e k o rre c e ive pay m e nt s f r o m pr o s pe c t ive e m pl o ye e s , e xc e pt a s p r o v i de d f

o ri n DHS r e g u l a t i o n s a t8 CF R 2 1 4 . 2 (h ) ( 5 ) (x i) (A)
. ” 2 0 C. F. R. § 6 55 . 22 ( g) ( 2)
. A l s o e f fe c t ive J anua r y 18 , 2 00 9, t he D e pa r t m e nto f H o m e l and Se c ur it y f

orbi ds an em pl oyer, em pl oyer’ s agen t , rec rui t e r , o rs i m il are m pl o ym e nt servi ce f

rom col l ect i n g an y “j ob placem en tfee or ot h er c om pen sati on ( ei t h er di rector i n di rect) ” fr om a for ei gn w orker a s a cond i t i on of an H

- 2B j ob of fer or as a cond i t i on of

H

- 2B em plo y m e n t. 8 C
. F
. R
. § 214. 2(h ) ( 6) (i) ( B )
. Th ese 7 regulat i on s ul t i m atel y m ay i n f l u en ce w h et h er H

- 2B em pl oyers w i l lrei m bu rse t h e rec rui t m en texpen ses of f u t u re g u e st w orkers, bu tt h ey do n otaf fect D e c a tu r ’ s o b lig a tio n s h e r e . See, e . g. , Si e r r a Me d. Ct r . v . Sul l i v an , 902 F. 2d 388, 3 9 2 (5 th C ir . 1 9 9 7 ) (“G e n e r a lly , co u r ts w ill n o t a p p l y r e g u la tio n s re tr o a c tiv e ly unl es s t hei r l anguage so r equi r es . ” ) ; 20 C
. F. R
. § 655. 5 (i ndi c at i ng, by c r eat i ng a t r ansi t i on per i od f

or im pl em ent i ng t he D epar t m entof Labor ’ s January 2009 c hanges t o 20 C
. F. R
. part655, t hatt he c hanges do notappl y r et r oac t ively) ; 73 Fed
. Reg
. 7 81 03 , 7 81 27
- 30 (D e c . 1 9, 2 00 8) (g ivi ng no i ndi c at i o n t hatt he D e p a r tm e n t o f L a b o r ’ s J a n u a r y2 0 0 9 ch a n g e s t o 8 C .F .R . p a r t 2 1 4 a p p ly r et r oac t ively)
. Furt her m or e, bec ause t he r egul at i ons f or t he f i r st t i m e f

orbi d anN o. 07- 30942

15 H

- 2B e m pl o ye rf

r o m pe r m i t t i ng gue s tw o r ke r s t o b e ars uc h r e c r ui t m e nt exp en ses, t h ey st rongly s u gg e st t h at t h e gu estw orkers’rec rui t m en texpen ses in c u r r e dlo n gb e fo r e th e r e g u la t io n s b e c a m e e ffe c t iv e w e r e n o tp a r to f D e c a t u r ’s b u s in e s s e x p e n s e . F i n al l y, our concl u si on i s not di st u rbed byt h e one case t h at t h e gu est w orkers ci t e h ol di n g recr u i t m en t exp en ses can be pa rt of an em pl oyer’ s busi n ess e x p e n s e . S ee R i vera , 200 8 U
. S
. D i st . L E X IS 1 167 , at *47-*50. Th e em pl oyer t he r e , Br i c km an, r e qui r e d g ue s tw o r ke r s t o hi r e a par t i c ul arr e c r ui t m e nt c o m p a n y , w h ic h c h a r g e dt h e m fe e s . Se ei d. at *48-*49. B ecau se t h e em pl oyer requiredt h e gu estw orkers t o use t h e rec rui t m en tcom pa n y, t h e courtconcl u ded

“ t h at f ees assoc i ated w i t h B ri ckm an - desi gn ated w orkers’ representat ives [w e] re cost s ‘ pri m ari l y f

or t h e ben ef

i tof t h e em pl oyer , ’an d that B ri ckm an , t h eref ore, w as no ta l l o w e d t o p ass t ho s e c o s t s a l o ng [ t o t he g ue s tw o r ke r s ] t o t he e xt e nt th a t do i n g so red u ced the i r w a ge s be l ow the F L S Am i n i m u m . ” I d. at*5 0. A ss um i ng t he c or r ec t nes s and c ont i nued val i di t y o f t hatc as e’ s r eas oni ng, t h e case i s di st i n gu i sha bl e. H ere, t h ere i s n o ev i den ce that D ecat u r even k n ew abou tt h e f

orei gn rec rui t m en tcom pa n i es, m u ch l ess t h at t h e com pa n i es c h arged a fee to t h e g u est w ork ers a s a co n d i ti on of rec e iv in ga n o ff er of em p l oy m en t. D e c at urpa i d Pi c ke r i ng $3 00 pe rj o b po s i t i o n f i l l e d, w hi ch i t s e l f

w as i n t he nat ure of

an em pl oye r - pai d r ec r ui t m entfee . Al t hough t he r ec or d doe s sho w t hat t he g ue s tw o r ke r s kne w of no o t he rw ayt o o bt ai n e m pl o ym e ntw i t h Dec at ur , t he reco rd also sh ow s th a t D eca tu r d i dn ot req u i re, or a p p rov e, a n y g u est w ork er to pa y a n y sum t o an yon e as a condit i on of an H

- 2B j ob of

fer oras a condit i on of H -2 B e m p lo y m e n t. F or a l lof th e foreg oin g re a son s, w e h old th a t t h e F L S Ad oe s n ot ob l i ga te D e c a tu rto re im b u r s e th e g u e s t w o r k e r s fo rth e irre c r u itm e n t e x p e n s e s .N o. 07- 30942

16 I V. In su m , w e h old th a t D eca tu r i n cu rred n o F L S Al i a b i l i ty to reim b u rse it s gues tw or ker s f

ort he r ec r ui t m entfee s, t r anspo r t at i on c os t s, orvi safee s t hat t h e y i nc ur r e d t o w o r k i n t he U ni t e d St at e s . W e RE VE RSE t he sum m ary j u dg m en t , R E N D E R j u dg m en ti n favor of D ecat u r, an d R E M A N D f or entr y of sam e. R E V E R S E D an dR E N D E R E D ; R E M A N D E D f or en try of j u d gm en t.