For the first time in history, the Virginia General Assembly passed legislation to extend minimum wage protections to the state’s farmworkers and migrant workers. The bill’s fate will now be determined by Gov. Glenn Youngkin.
NFFC’s senior policy adviser, Antonio Tovar, was recently interviewed on this topic by Blue Virginia. NFFC has long advocated for living wages for food producers and farmworkers.
Read the full article on BlueVirginia.us
In 2020, while the Virginia General Assembly passed momentous legislation to raise the minimum wage, this act still maintained the outdated farmworkers exemption, while also adding an exemption for H-2A and H-2B workers on temporary visas. These steps resulted in worsening wage inequities between farmworkers and temporary migrant workers and the rest of Virginia’s workforce.
“I feel very good that this has passed. It is beneficial for many people and would change their lives. I hope that the Governor signs this proposal—we have been working for a long time with very low wages, and we would be very grateful that we are now protected,” said Maria G., a farmworker in the Northern Neck of Virginia.
“Securing fair wages for farmworkers could improve safety, productivity, and particularly raise the wellbeing of workers, their families, and the community,” said Antonio Tovar, Senior Policy Associate from the National Family Farm Coalition.