Summary Information on Farmworkers

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO summarized its recent reports and testimonies related to migrant and seasonal farmworkers. GAO noted that: (1) federal programs that serve the general population or workers in general do not provide assistance to many farmworkers; (2) due to limited funds, federal programs that primarily serve farmworkers can not provide assistance to all eligible farmworkers; (3) federal regulation of pesticides, workplace conditions, and child labor do not adequately protect farmworkers' health and well-being; (4) data on farmworkers are limited; (5) the supply of adequate farmworker housing falls far short of demand; and (6) agricultural employers frequently fail to pay wages for all hours worked, pay wages promptly, and pay minimum wage rates.