---
kind: "section"
citation: "29 C.F.R. § 502.16"
title: "29"
number: "502.16"
heading: "Sanctions and remedies—General."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/29/502.16"
---

# §502.16. Sanctions and remedies—General.


Whenever the Secretary believes that the H-2A provisions of the INA or these regulations have been violated such action shall be taken and such proceedings instituted as deemed appropriate, including (but not limited to) the following:

- (a) **Institute appropriate administrative proceedings, including—** The recovery of unpaid wages, including wages owed to U.S. workers as a result of a layoff or displacement prohibited by these rules (either directly from the employer, a successor in interest, or in the case of an H-2ALC also by claim against any surety who issued a bond to the H-2ALC); the enforcement of covered provisions of the work contract as set forth in [29 CFR 501.10(a)](/cfr/29/501.10.md?p=a); the assessment of a civil money penalty; reinstatement; or the recommendation of debarment for up to 3 years.
- (b) Petition any appropriate District Court of the U.S. for temporary or permanent injunctive relief, including the withholding of unpaid wages and/or reinstatement, to restrain violation of the H-2A provisions of the INA, [20 CFR part 655](/cfr/20/part655.md), [Subpart B](/cfr/29/subpartB.md), or these regulations by any person.
- (c) Petition any appropriate District Court of the U.S. for specific performance of covered contractual obligations.

## Notes

### Authority

Authority: 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(a), 1184(c), and 1188.

### Source

Source: 73 FR 77229, Dec. 18, 2008, unless otherwise noted.