Detalles del documento

Imprima y guarde

Artículo de periódico

Georgia Program Replaces Migrant Farm Workers With Ex-Cons

Fecha

2011-06-27

Autores

Laura Northrup

Titular

The Consumerist

Texto completo

Recent immigration crackdowns in Georgia have left the agricultural sector with a labor shortage. A big one. An unscientific poll puts the gap as high as 11,000 workers, but plants still have to be harvested. The governor responded to farmers’ complaints with a new program that puts people on probation to work in the fields at minimum wage, with bonuses for high production. This seems like an ideal match: probationers have a higher unemployment rate than the general population, and farmers need people in the fields. It turns out, though, that hard work, hot weather, low pay, and inexperienced workers don’t make for a very bountiful harvest.
One probationer told the Associated Press:
“Those guys out here weren’t out there 30 minutes and they got the bucket and just threw them in the air and say, ‘Bonk this, I ain’t with this, I can’t do this.’ They just left, took off across the field walking.”
With bonuses, an experienced worker at the cucumber farm AP reporters visited can make as much as $20 per hour. That depends on speed, something the new workers don’t have going for them yet.

Conexiones

Los sectores económicos

Agriculture and horticulture workers y General farm workers

Tipos de contenido

Análisis de políticas

Los grupos destinatarios

Conciencia Pública

Relevancia geográfica

Estados Unidos

Esferas de la actividad

Agricultura y Ciencias Políticas

Idiomas

Inglés