California Governor Signs Farm Worker Overtime Bill

Dan Industry News Release, Labor and Immigration

California’s Democratic Governor Jerry Brown signed a bill that would raise the state’s farmworker wages for overtime. The San Francisco Chronicle reports that the United Farm Workers supported the legislation, but the Western Growers Association President said it will have the exact opposite effect of what was intended. Tom Nassif said it will actually cause workers to lose wages. Producers will have to cut down on costs of production and they’ll reduce worker hours and may even plant crops that don’t require as much labor. Retail buyers will purchase products from other states to keep their costs down as higher production costs will drive prices on California goods higher. He added, “California farmers compete with farmers in other countries and states with no overtime costs, far lower minimum wages, reliable water supplies, and far less regulatory burden.”

From the National Association of Farm Broadcasting news service.

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