Candidates for state Senate in the 43rd District differ in approaches to the state’s planned reduction in the threshold for farmworker overtime wages.

“I would push for the repeal of lowering the threshold for farm overtime,” said state Assemblyman Jake Ashby, R-Castleton, who is running for the open state Senate seat in the new 43rd District.

Andrea Smyth, the Democratic candidate, said officials should “continuously evaluate” the impact of the change as it is implemented in phases over a 10-year period.

“At this point, where the budget makes downturns, and we may have to stop the subsidies that are supposed to hold the farmers level, at that point, I would advocate for freezing the movement toward the 40-hour overtime,” said Smyth, speaking at a recent Rensselaer County League of Women Voters virtual candidate debate.

On Sept. 30, state Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon announced that the department ratified a recommendation of the state Farm Laborers Wage Board to reduce the threshold for overtime pay from 60 hours per week to 40 hours per week, over a 10-year period.

A public comment period on the recommendation is to begin later this month.

The threshold had been 60 hours since Jan. 1, 2020.

Before that, overtime pay was not required for farmworkers in New York.

The threshold would be reduced to 56 hours starting Jan. 1, 2024, and be reduced in subsequent biannual increments.

A tax credit enacted as part of this year’s state budget will help cover the additional cost...

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