The state’s Farm Laborers Wage Board plans to hold more hearings in January on potentially lowering the overtime work threshold for farm laborers from 60 to 40 hours per week, bypassing a Dec. 15 legal deadline.
The hearings will include testimony from farm laborers, agricultural employers, academic experts and elected officials, among others, according to the state. The Department of Labor did not elaborate on reasons for the extension in a statement emailed to Times Review.
“As contemplated by and in line with her previous Order, on Wednesday, December 15, 2021, New York State Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon announced the reconvening of the wage board, and that the wage board would hold public hearings to hear testimony to consider the existing overtime threshold for farm laborers and the extent to which the overtime threshold may be lowered in New York State,” a spokesperson said.
Farm workers began to earn overtime, or time-and-a-half, after 60 hours per week with the start of 2020.
The existing 60-hour threshold was established under the Farm Laborer Fair Labor Practices Act, signed in 2019. The legislation also sets a day of rest, the right to collective bargaining and increased insurance requirements for most non-supervisory, non-family farm employees.
The potential change has been met with mixed reactions from farmers and laborers.
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