A new Agricultural Job Opportunity, Benefits and Security (AgJobs) Act has been passed by the US senate this week that will grant amnesty to over 1m farmworkers working in the country illegally.
The move is seen by many in the agricultural industry as essential to ensuring a plentiful supply of labour, with foreign farmworkers operating in the country for over two years (along with their families) eligible.
The bill was introduced by Senator Dianne Feinstein, who said that it would help guarantee a consistent, reliable agriculture workforce.
'Farmers have been forced to decrease the size of their farms and switch to less labour-intensive and less profitable crops,' she said in a statement. 'Efforts have been made for years to get Americans to do the work, but they simply won't do it.'
Despite being touted for introduction in 2003 and then being passed in 2006, the AgJobs Bill has only been approved for the first time this year.
'Immigration reform is essential to stem this (farm worker) crisis,' said United Fresh Produce Association CEO Tom Stenzel. 'AgJobs is a widely supported, comprehensive package of reforms intended to meet that objective. It includes reasonable measures to ensure a predictable, documented workforce, along with enhanced security and enforcement provisions.'
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