HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 444

BYRepresentatives R. King, Wang, Fisch, Fisher, Cole, Sayan, Lux and Belcher

Extending wage and hour laws to agricultural employees.

House Committe on Commerce & Labor

Majority Report:     Do pass.  (7)

     Signed by Representatives Wang, Chair; Cole, Vice Chair; Fisch, Fisher, R. King, O'Brien and Sayan.

Minority Report:     Do not pass.  (1)

     Signed by Representative C. Smith.

House Staff:Chris Cordes (786-7117)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & LABOR FEBRUARY 9, 1987

BACKGROUND:

In 1913, Washington enacted an industrial welfare law to establish mandatory labor standards governing "inadequate wages and unsanitary conditions of labor" for women and minors.  When this law was revised in 1973, it was broadened to provide labor standards for all workers, with several exceptions including agricultural labor.  The law is administered by the Department of Labor and Industries.

Agricultural labor is also excluded from coverage under Washington's minimum wage act and the provisions governing overtime pay.

SUMMARY:

The exclusion of agricultural labor from coverage under the industrial welfare law is deleted.  The exclusion of agricultural labor from the definition of employee for the purposes of the minimum wage law, including minimum wage for employment in excess of forty hours per week, is deleted.

Fiscal Note:    Attached.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:     Ricardo Garcia; Thomas Villaneuva, United Farm Workers; Becky Smith, Evergreen Legal Services; Manuel Cortez; Samuel Martinez, Washington State Migrant Council; Jeff Johnson, Washington State Labor Council; and Hector Gonzalez, Mexican-American Affairs.

(Neutral) Brett Buckley, Department of Labor and Industries.

House Committee - Testified Against: Bill Roberts, Washington Farm Bureau; Bruce Briggs, Nurseryman's Association; Dan Coyn, Dairy Federation; Stu Trefry, Washington State Grange; Frank Delong, Horticultural Association; Duane Kaiser; and Marlyta Deck, Cattlemen's Association.

House Committee - Testimony For:     Without the protection of labor standards, overtime requirements and minimum wage law, agricultural workers are not guaranteed fair employment.

House Committee - Testimony Against: Imposing minimum wage standard on agricultural employment will be costly to the agricultural business and may lead to a loss of jobs for workers.