Contreras: Overtime In Ag Industry Will Make Oregon More Attractive

Once Governor Kate Brown signs House Bill 4002, the overtime exemption for the farming community in Oregon will phase out over the next five years. While many in the farming community say this legislation will be detrimental to the Ag industry across the state, advocates say farm workers deserve better and overtime pay is a step in the right direction.

Diego Contreras, a PhD student in sociology at the University of Oregon, says in his research, he’s determined that roughly 10%-15% of farm workers early less than the state’s minimum wage. But he added he’s confident that number is actually higher. Contreras added those that earn less than minimum wage often deal with cheating, unfavorable labor practices and in some cases illegal labor practices. He added most farm workers across Oregon desire to receive overtime pay.

“Part of my work is also qualitative research, so for the past three years, I’ve been conducting many, many interviews with farm workers, farm labor contractors, and growers in the state of Oregon.  The sentiment in general among farm workers is to increase the overtime pay.  Even farm labor contractors support that, but they know that this is going to also impact their businesses.”

Contreras added once the farming community starts providing overtime pay, it will make Oregon more competitive when it comes to attracting hard to find farm workers.

“If we don’t apply this kind of bill, in the state of Oregon, it seems like we would potentially loose more workers, and again, we already have a shortage of farm labor in the state, if the other two states next to Oregon area already offering more wages, it potentially is going to affect the amount of seasonal workers that the state is already receiving.”

Contreras added many farm workers are scared to report pay or work condition issues to the state, for fear of reprisal.

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