JBS settles with $5.5 million in Muslim discrimination lawsuit

WELD COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) --The Colorado-based meat processing company JBS is paying up to $5.5 million to settle a lawsuit that claimed the company was discriminating against Muslim employees.

The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission announced the settlement Wednesday morning. The 2010 lawsuit alleges JBS discriminated against employees who were black, Muslim immigrants from Somalia.

Among the allegations made by the lawsuit, JBS allegedly did not allow employees to pray while on the job, they were harassed more harshly than other workers, and were called offensive names.

Around 300 of JBS employees will receive money from the settlement.