The United Farm Workers union has reached an agreement with a labor recruiter that would ensure better working conditions for thousands of agricultural guest workers.
California-based Global Horizons is promising to pay two percent more than the federally-mandated minimum wage for guest workers. The company also will provide medical care and paid bereavement leave if a family member dies, including transportation to and from their native country.
Global Horizons brings in workers from dozens of nations each year under the federal government's (H-2A) agricultural guest worker program. Officials in the western state of Washington revoked the company's operating license in December over numerous labor violations involving hundreds of workers from Thailand.
Some information for this report was provided by AP.