Page 135 - MFB State Annual Meeting 2018 -- RESOLUTIONS BOOK

43 that become available for temporary housing should only
44 be directed to applicants of the Construction Grant
45 Program. We support the revision of the Construction
46 Grant Program to make fund allocations based on the
47 number of licensed housing units. We will oppose any
48 changes in the construction grant laws that reduce the
49 eligibility, application and distribution process. This
50 program has the support of all affected parties, including
51 employees, employers, labor, migrant advocates and
52 government regulating agencies.
53 The federally funded 514 program, administered
54 through USDA Rural Development, allows producers to
55 build farm labor housing with low interest loans for
56 domestic farm workers. We recommend the State
57 Director of Rural Development allow foreign farm workers
58 with a visa to occupy this housing as allowed under a
59 514, 515, or 516 program contract.
60 Overlapping of administrative oversight and
61 inspection of temporary housing requirements presents
62 a fragmented format of temporary housing rules. MFB
63 requests MDARD be the sole vendor of temporary
64 housing law enforcement. We encourage MDARD to
65 continue to publish and provide a publication explaining
66 the current complete licensing and inspection
67 procedures for temporary housing both on and off farm.
68 The U.S. Department of Labor should recognize a
69 current license issued by MDARD as proof the labor
70 camp is acceptable for habitation. We support that once
71 an agriculture labor camp is inspected and licensed by
72 the appropriate state agency and then occupied, the
73 USDOL and/or other agencies may not enter the camp
74 dwellings, which are the homes of the employees,
75 without the employee’s permission and proper advance
76 notification to the owner of the farm. Federal and other
77 state agencies should be in audit positions only and shall
78 refer any apparent violations to MDARD, rather than
79 issuing an immediate penalty.
80 We encourage legislation to develop uniform
81 housing standards/requirements across state and
82 federal agencies for agricultural workers. 
#57 WAGES AND COMPENSATION
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Although most farm workers are paid above the minimum wage level, it does serve as a floor for all wage rates. The state minimum wage and piecework rates should not exceed the federal minimum wage.
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We recommend:
Agriculture, as defined in the North American
Industry Classification System (NAICS 11), remain exempt from overtime wage payments. Agricultural piecework rates as a method of
State Policies – Page 49