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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | March 6, 2023 03:49 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Barry J. Jozwiak |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Seasonal Farm Labor Law |
| I am preparing to introduce legislation that would amend the Seasonal Farm Labor Law to allow workers to work additional hours. Many seasonal farm workers come to the United States legally on H2A visas intending to work and earn as much money as possible during the busy seasons on our food producing farms such as vegetable growers, fruit orchards, Christmas tree growers, pumpkin growers and dairy products. Unfortunately, although many of these workers would prefer to work and earn more, our state law limits them to working 48 hours in a week and 10 hours in a day. My legislation will simply increase these limits to 60 hours a week and 12 hours in a day. In other Pennsylvania labor laws, we do not restrict the number of hours that an adult employee can work or be asked to work, so this legislation will retain a greater level of protection than is afforded to other types of workers in this respect. It should also be noted that the current law requires a seasonal farm worker to be given a break of at least 30 minutes for every five continuous work hours, which is also not required for other adult workers. My legislation would not change this requirement for breaks in any way. I believe this legislation will be a win to both the farms that produce our food and the seasonal workers who are trying to earn as much as possible during the agricultural seasons. I hope that you will join me as a cosponsor. |
Introduced as HB1029