Farmworker overtime bill passes Assembly
Written by Business Journal staff    
Friday, 02 July 2010 10:09 

A bill seeking to extend overtime privileges for farmworkers in California passed the Assembly on its way to the governor's desk for approval.

SB 1121, authored by Sen. Dean Florez, D-Shafter, amends the Labor Code to grant farmworkers overtime pay for work beyond an 8-hour shift or beyond 40 hours in a week. Previously, overtime was only afforded for time over 10 hours in a day and 60 for a week.

Currently, agricultural workers are the only labor group in the state not to get regular overtime pay after 8 hours due to the seasonal nature of the work that requires greater flexibility. California is the only state in the union to offer overtime for farmworkers. 

Opponents of the bill claim that a greater overtime requirement will cause farmers to hire fewer workers or cut shifts dramatically to avoid the associated high costs while relying more on machinery in the field. The bill passed by a 47-26 vote in the Assembly yesterday.

http://www.thebusinessjournal.com/agriculture/5437-farmworker-overtime-bill-passes-assembly