farmworker

A farmworker is a person employed to perform agricultural labor on a farm. Tasks commonly include planting, weeding, pruning, harvesting, sorting, packaging of crops, and care for livestock, as well as operating related machinery and equipment. Farmwork is typically seasonal and location-dependent, with workers moving to different fields or regions to follow harvests.

Many farmworkers are migrants who travel within a country or across borders to seek seasonal employment. They are often engaged through temporary contracts or labor contractors, and the terms of employment, housing, and access to benefits can vary widely by country and by status, such as citizen, resident, or migrant.

Economic conditions for farmworkers vary, but wages are often low and can be paid hourly, by piece rate, or through other arrangements. Hours can be long, including early mornings, weekends, and extended harvest periods. Workers may face insecure housing, transportation challenges, and limited access to healthcare or social services, particularly when undocumented or transient.

Health and safety concerns in farming include exposure to pesticides, heat stress, noise, machinery, and heavy lifting. Regulatory regimes in many countries require training, protective equipment, and adherence to safety standards, though enforcement and coverage differ.

Rights and advocacy groups, labor unions, and non-governmental organizations work to improve wages, housing, working conditions, and access to medical care. International bodies emphasize standards for agricultural labor, including freedom of association and non-discrimination. The farmworker workforce is essential to food production, yet its members often face vulnerability, making regional reforms and protections an ongoing policy focus.