Protecting the Rights of Migrant Farmworkers
Summary
Throughout New York State, thousands of farmworkers face difficult working conditions, living conditions and other barriers to quality of life.
Conference Position
The Catholic Conference advocates for the enactment of measures that will enhance the quality of life for migrant farmworkers.
Rationale
The Catholic Conference advocates for policies based upon the principle of preferential option for the poor. A particularly vulnerable group is migrant farmworkers in New York State, primarily comprising people of Hispanic culture from Mexico, Puerto Rico, El Salvador and other Central and South American countries. Because of the nature of their lifestyle, migrant workers may be separated from their homes, families, religion and culture adding to their vulnerability.
Farmworkers are excluded from most of the laws that establish worker protections, including overtime pay, employer contributions to the unemployment and workers’ compensation funds, and public health protections including sanitation and housing standards. These exclusions need to be eliminated. Farmworkers should also be given an opportunity for a 24-hour day of rest in every calendar week which, whenever possible, would coincide with the laborer’s traditional day for religious worship. Collective bargaining rights should also be granted to farm laborers.
There is no legitimate reason for treating farmworkers inequitably. They should be afforded the same rights, protections and benefits that other workers in New York State receive. It is unacceptable for farmworkers to be denied the basic labor, safety and health protections other workers enjoy. Farmworkers make a significant contribution to the production of agricultural products in this great state, and are deserving of being treated with dignity.
By recognizing the rights of farmworkers and the unique contributions of agriculture, New York can develop policies which bring economic fairness, safety, and dignity to the production of agricultural goods from which we all benefit.
You can download this document, Protecting the Rights of Migrant Farmworkers, in PDF form.
