Speech #970235937

Senator QUAYLE. Senator HAWKINS. and Senator HELMS. a bill to supercede the Farm Labor Contractor Registration Act (FLCRA). This bill. which will be cited as the "Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act." (MSPA) was recently submitted to the Congress by the administration. For the past 18 months the Department of Labor has engaged in extensive negotiations with the various interest groups to develop new legislation that would strengthen enforcement over labor contractors as well as enhance labor standard protections for migrant and seasonal agricultural workers. Among the representative groups consulted were the American Farm Bureau Federation. the AFLCIO and its affiliate. the United Farm Workers of America. the migrant legal action program. the National Cotton Council. the National Council of Agricultural Employers. the National Food Processors Association. the United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association. and the Western Growers Association. As Secretary Donovan indicated in the letter transmitting the measure. "the bill represents a consensus among the parties who are most directly affected." Congress enacted the current law FLCRA in 1963 to curb the exploitation of migrant agricultural workers and their employers by irresponsible farm labor contractors. Known commonly as crew leaders. these contractors typically traveled the country. following the planting and harvesting season. They recruited. transported. supervised. handled pay arrangements. and otherwise acted as intermediary between migrant workers and agricultural employers. Congressional hearings. however. revealed sordid abuses In many instances. Migrant workers were commonly promised higher wages and more work than they eventually received. they were transported long distances in unsafe vehicles and under degrading conditions. they were housed in hovels. they were subjected to physical abuse and kept in virtual slavery. The hearings also showed that itinerant crew leaders at times victimized agricultural employers. Lured by a more lucrative arrangement in the interim. a crew leader might break a previously made contract to supply labor to a farmer. who would then face financial ruin if he could not get help to harvest his crop in time.