Embedded Files
“(Farm workers) are involved in the planting and the cultivation and the harvesting of the greatest abundance of food known in this society. They bring in so much food to feed you and me and the whole country and enough food to export to other places. The ironic thing and the tragic thing is that after they make this tremendous contribution, they don’t have any money or any food left for themselves.” - Ceaser Chavez
“(Farm workers) are involved in the planting and the cultivation and the harvesting of the greatest abundance of food known in this society. They bring in so much food to feed you and me and the whole country and enough food to export to other places. The ironic thing and the tragic thing is that after they make this tremendous contribution, they don’t have any money or any food left for themselves.” - Ceaser Chavez
Current Standards
Current Standards
There are currently no standards for the treatment of workers on organic farms.
Undocumented versus Documented Workers
Undocumented versus Documented Workers
Documented immigrants are those that have entered the U.S. legally, with either a visa or green card. Undocumented immigrants are those who have entered the country without a valid visa or violated the terms of their visa (Washington State Department of Social and Health Services). The seasonal agricultural visa in the United States is the H-2A visa, which is held by about 8 percent of agricultural workers. About 60 percent of farm workers are in the U.S. illegally (National Farm Worker Ministry [NFWM], 2018b). However, with the current visa system in the United States, it is infeasible to require every immigrant worker to have legal status, as that would create a serious shortage of farm workers.
(National Center for Farmworker Health, Inc., 2012)
This shows the breakdown of income from the tobacco industry. Currently, workers receive a very small amount of the overall income (NFWM, 2018c)
Wages
Wages
Currently, farm workers earn an average of $7.25 an hour. The annual average income of crop workers is between $10,000 to $12,499 The federal poverty line for an individual is $10,830. This means at least 30% of all farm workers are working below the poverty line. Some farm workers are paid based on how many buckets or bags they pick of whatever crop they harvest, this is known as the 'piece rate'. This makes workers not want to take breaks since it would cut into their productivity cutting back their pay. Workers do not get paid for overtime (NFWM, 2018c).
We would like to enact standards for organic certification stating that workers get paid at least the minimum wage for the state they are working in. Workers would get paid for overtime, and if there are full-time workers they should get paid vacation days, and payment during maternity leave (12 weeks). Workers will always get paid hourly, not based on how much they harvest.
Hours
Hours
Right now, farm workers average work weeks of 42 hours. This does not account for hours worked overtime. No breaks are given (NFWM, 2018c).
We would like to enact standards for organic certification stating that workers work no more than 40 hours a week. Overtime is allowed, but it most be paid. There will be a required break every two hours for fifteen minutes.
Child Workers
Child Workers
Current child labor laws it the U.S. are more relaxed in regards to agriculture than in any other field. Minors of at least 16 years of age are allowed to work any agricultural job, even those deemed hazardous, at any time, including during school hours. Children as young as 12 make work on a farm with parental consent and those under 12 can work on farms that are exempt from the federal minimum wage with parental permission. Many child workers suffer from physical and emotional issues due to the long hours, demanding work, and extreme conditions they are made to work under (NFWM, 2018a).
We would like to enact standards that make organic farmers the same child labor laws as every other industry. Children under 16 should not be able to partake in demanding farm labor. Minors over 16 should not be allowed to work during school hours or shifts over 8 hours. They should also be given proper breaks and be prohibited from working any jobs deemed hazardous.
Women Workers
Women Workers
Women workers are currently treated horribly. Women make up 28% of the agricultural workforce. They are not allowed maternity leave. Some employers take advantage of married women to evade extra payments like Social Security. By illegally paying women on their spouse's paychecks instead of issuing individual payment. Thus, denying women payment for their work and giving their husband control over their money. 80% of women workers have experienced sexual harassment and often times dress like men in order to reduce chances of this unwanted harassment (Waugh, 2010).
We would like to enact fair treatment of women by making sure they are paid individually for their work, instead of being placed on their husbands paycheck. Paid maternity leave will be required for 12 weeks to ensure the health of the mom and the baby.
Housing
Housing
Currently, farmers are only required to provide housing to migrant workers on H-2A visas, which only makes up 8 percent of farm workers. If workers are documented, they can qualify for government subsidized housing. However, the majority of workers are undocumented and can only get privately rented housing. Landlords often jack up the rent for migrant workers. In Immokolee, Florida, an area where many migrant workers gather to work on farms, a small trailer can go for up to $500 per week (NFWM, 2018b).
We would like to enact new standards that require farmers to either provide or help migrant workers acquire housing at a fair cost that works with their wages. We would like to stop the inflation of rent for migrant workers and assure that the housing accommodations are sufficiently maintained.
Healthcare
Healthcare
Currently, agriculture is on the most dangerous occupations due to the various hazards, especially heat related illnesses. The two biggest barriers farm workers face when attempting to access healthcare is lack of transportation and lack of information about available healthcare services (NFWM, 2018d).
We advocate for new organic standards that would require farmers to provide transportation for workers who need healthcare. We would also require farmers to educate their workers on the different healthcare services available to them.
Job Security
Job Security
Currently, migrant farm workers must chase crops to make a living. Workers are constantly at the mercy of variable conditions like natural disasters and weather (Romero, 2017).
We would like to enact job security be ensuring a worker will get paid minimum wage for a full growing season. They will still get paid on days where they cannot work due to weather or natural disaster.
Protection from Chemicals
Protection from Chemicals
Since we are enacting standards for organic, there is no protection that is needed because there are no harsh chemicals being used in the fields.
Enforcement of Standards
Enforcement of Standards
To enforce these standards on certified organic farms, we would need to send out people to inspect the living conditions, health, and safety of the farm workers. This inspection or proof of quality housing should occur before the working season, to assure that workers always have access to these accommodations. The farm should again be inspected in the middle of the working season to assure that workers are receiving proper healthcare and abiding by safety rules.
Sarah Schmidt and Maggie Malley
Resources
National Center for Farmworker Health, Inc. (2012, September). Farmworker Health Factsheet: Demographics. Retrieved from http://www.ncfh.org/uploads/3/8/6/8/38685499/fs-migrant_demographics.pdf
National Farm Worker Ministry. (2018a, June). Children in the Fields. Retrieved from http://nfwm.org/farm-workers/farm-worker-issues/children-in-the-fields/
National Farm Worker Ministry. (2018b, June). Housing. Retrieved from http://nfwm.org/farm-workers/farm-worker-issues/housing/
National Farm Worker Ministry. (2018c, June). Low Wages. Retrieved from http://nfwm.org/farm-workers/farm-worker-issues/low-wages/
National Farm Worker Ministry. (2018d, June). Health & Safety. Retrieved from http://nfwm.org/farm-workers/farm-worker-issues/health-safety/
Romero, F. J. (2017, October 19). California Wildfires Leave Seasonal Agricultural Workers In Limbo. National Public Radio. Retrieved from https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2017/10/19/558543177/california-wildfires-leave-seasonal-agricultural-workers-without-jobs-income
Waugh, I. M. (2010). Examining the Sexual Harassment Experiences of Mexican Immigrant Farmworking Women. Violence Against Women, 16(3), 237–261. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077801209360857
Washington State Department of Social and Health Services. (n.d.). What’s the difference between legal and undocumented immigrants?. Retrieved from https://www.dshs.wa.gov/faq/what%E2%80%99s-difference-between-legal-and-undocumented-immigrants
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