Workmen's Compensation and Farm Workers in The United States

AUTHOR ABSTRACT

Farmworkers, engaged in one of the most hazardous industries in the United States, are generally not covered by workmen's compensation insurance. Because of the dangerous nature of agricultural work and because many farmworkers are in marginal income positions, the question of coverage is of great importance. Throughout this paper, migrant workers are considered apart from the non-family wage and salary farmworkers. I refer to the latter as members of the stabilized farm labor force which includes unpaid family members as well. There were approximately 196,000 migrants employed in 1970. Current emphasis on the workmen's compensation system and rising interest in the socio-economic problems of both the stabilized farm labor force and migrant agricultural workers lend added importance to the need for knowledge in this area.

This paper will examine both the legal and economic problems of extending coverage to farmworkers. First, however, the present state of coverage, estimates of work force presently covered, an economic analysis of secular changes in the agricultural labor market, and a description of the occupational hazards peculiar to farming will be explored. The paper also presents cost estimates on extending coverage.

We will show that in the jurisdictions having so-called compulsory coverage, only about one-half of all hired farmworkers are actually covered. Further, we will find the cost of extending coverage to uncovered hired workers to be roughly between $77.4 million and $133.9 million.

Three major considerations will be discussed which are connected to the extension of coverage. Suggestions are made to include family members who work on the farm, new means of insuring the coverage of migrants are proposed, and finally, the problems of policing coverage and the delivery of medical benefits are discussed. In connection with these problems a general disability coverage is proposed for farmers to either incorporate private insurers or to be funded publicly.

SOURCE AND NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE ID#

SOURCE: Supplemental studies for the national commission on state workmen's compensation laws, Volume I. Washington, D.C.; 1973: 137-159.

NLOM ID#: No ID#.