(FLORIDA) – Florida’s farmworkers work tirelessly to supply our state’s population with the vital foodstuffs that keep us fed. However, migrant farmworkers and their families often face numerous legal challenges that can pose significant hurdles to their employment, public benefits, housing, and civil rights.
Florida Rural Legal Services (FRLS) is a non-profit law firm that provides free civil legal aid to qualified individuals, families, and vulnerable communities across 13 Florida counties and to farmworkers statewide.
In fact, FRLS is the only legal aid organization that provides free legal services to farmworkers and migrant workers across the state of Florida. What’s more: we’ve been working on this mission since the sixties, when FRLS was founded as South Florida Migrant Services with the goal of serving some of Florida’s most vulnerable agricultural communities.
Did You Know Farmworkers are Protected Under Florida Law?
Did you know that, in most cases, it is illegal to make farmworkers labor in areas where pesticides are being sprayed? Whenever pesticides are in active use, employers must disclose which pesticide agents have been used, offer adequate training on how to workers can protect themselves from harm, and provide protective clothing and equipment to any farmworker whose job it is to mix or apply pesticides
Did you also know that, in Florida, the minimum salary for a farmworker on an H-2A visa is $16.23 per hour? The workday begins with the farmworker’s arrival at the farm site and concludes when they leave, subtracting lunch time. The employer is not allowed to deduct anything from the worker’s wage, unless otherwise explained in their working contract, and they are entitled to a paystub with their check, hours, hourly rate, and deductions listed. Finally, the employer should pay for all travel expenses to and from the farmworker’s home country or next job.
Finally, did you know that farmworkers can receive Worker’s Compensation benefits for workplace injuries as a farmworker? That’s right! Florida law stipulates that Worker’s Compensation covers all farmworkers. Farmworkers should make sure to report any workplace injuries immediately.
There are a host of protections available to Florida’s farmworkers. FRLS is here to help answer questions and provide legal services, all at no cost to you!
The Migrant Farmworkers Team at FRLS
The Migrant Farmworkers team at FRLS provides free legal advice, representation, and advocacy for migrant agricultural workers and their families. Our goal is to ensure that the living and working conditions of Florida’s farmworkers are up to the standards established by state and federal law.
To this end, our team of dedicated legal advocates works primarily in the areas of employment, housing, public benefits, and civil rights law, ensuring underserved populations have access to quality legal aid at no cost to themselves. We also offer comprehensive legal services to farmworker clients with matters related to unemployment, wage theft, discrimination, H-2A visas, and labor trafficking cases.
Moreover, our Migrant Farmworkers team regularly leads community outreach efforts throughout Florida, promoting our free legal services and advocating for the rights of our state’s hardworking agricultural communities.
If you’re a migrant farmworker and want to know more about your legal rights, call 1-888-582-3410 or apply for legal help using this online form.
About Florida Rural Legal Services (FRLS):
Florida Rural Legal Services, Inc. (FRLS) is a non-profit law firm that provides free civil legal aid to qualified individuals, families, and vulnerable communities across 13 Florida counties and to farmworkers statewide. Since 1966, FRLS has pursued justice by providing legal services in
housing law, family law, consumer protection, public benefits, elder law, disaster relief, education law, tax advocacy, and more, all at no cost to our clients. FRLS collaborates with community organizations and pro bono attorneys to deliver quality advocacy, outreach, and education designed to protect the rights of those in need. For over 50 years, FRLS has been a steadfast advocate for justice. Learn more at www.FRLS.org.