Auditing state and federal protections for migrant and seasonal agricultural workers. (1st January 2011)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Peace, Robert
• Is Part Of: International journal of critical accounting. Volume 3:Number 1(2011)
• Page Start: 80
• Page End: 90
• Publication Date: 2011-01-01
• Subjects: poverty -- subsidies -- labour -- agriculture -- migrants -- audits -- USA; Accounting -- Periodicals; 657.05
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1757-9848

Abstract

The Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act (MSPA) was enacted to provide workplace protections for migrant and seasonal farm workers. The US Dept. of Labor is charged with audit enforcement of the Act's wage and hour provisions as well as parts of the Act that ensure health and safety. Studies conclude that US Government enforcement of MSPA has been ineffective (Southern Poverty Law Center, 2009). Part of what is perceived to be an illegal immigration problem in the USA is of our own making. US taxpayer financed agricultural subsidies render Mexican farmers unable to compete. Poverty fuels migration (Peace, 2009). If US taxpayers are financing agricultural subsidies that encourage immigration to the USA, taxpayers should feel a responsibility for the fair pay, health, and safety of those who are lured across our borders. We should demand effective compliance audits.