JAMESTOWN — State Sen. George Borrello has proposed legislation that would eliminate the three-member Farm Laborers Wage Board.
The Wage Board was established as part of the Farm Laborers Fair Labor Practices Act passed in 2019. It was charged with making a recommendation on reducing the current 60-hour overtime threshold for farm workers to 40 hours.
In January, after numerous public hearings on the issue that included testimony from farmers, farm workers and industry stakeholders, the board recommended lowering the threshold, despite the fact that more than 70% of the testimony conveyed the harm that would be caused by such a change, Borrello’s office said in a news release.
Borrello, R-Sunset Bay, noted that the Wage Board is set to reconvene on Sept. 6 to present its final report regarding the overtime recommendations.
If the board advances the report, New York State Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon will have 45 days to review the report and announce her decision. Gov. Kathy Hochul would then be required to sign Reardon’s decision into law.
The board has yet to submit its final report, which has delayed for months a decision on the recommendation.
Advocates for reducing the overtime threshold say the measure will allow fair wages and treatment for farm workers, but farmers say it will push their operations beyond the financial brink.
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