Restoring Hours and Pay for California’s Farmworkers

California’s farmworkers are facing an economic squeeze—fewer hours, reduced take-home pay, and rising costs of living. In 2016, the Legislature passed AB 1066 with the goal of providing farmworkers with overtime pay protections equal to other industries. But the policy didn’t account for the financial realities of agriculture. As a result, employers drastically cut back overtime hours to avoid unaffordable costs, leading to smaller paychecks for workers across the state.

Senator Shannon Grove’s SB 628 offers a commonsense solution. The bill creates a payroll tax credit for agricultural employers to help cover the cost of overtime wages—specifically, the difference between the regular rate of pay and the higher overtime rate. This credit would enable employers to offer more overtime hours, putting more money back in the pockets of farmworkers and helping stabilize rural communities.

See Senator Grove’s Fact Sheet on SB 628