Governor Deal Suggests Probationers Fill Farm Jobs

[ej510]

Atlanta (WAOK)-Georgia’s new law cracking down on illegal immigration takes effect on July 1, but it’s effect is already being felt by state farmers.

Area farmers had already complained of a shortage in the labor force to pick fruits and vegetables, but now that shortage is being realized as a recent survey has revealed that the farming industry has close to 12,000 positions to fill. Farmers charge that the new immigration enforcement law is to blame causing several thousand migrant workers to leave Georgia.

What is left in their wake? Unpicked fruits and vegetables that could cost some farmers thousands of dollars in lost crop costs.

Governor Nathan Deal has proposed a partial solution to the shortage in manpower: hiring people on criminal probation. Gov. Deal said in a statement Tuesday that he had asked the state’s agriculture and corrections commissioners to connect unemployed probationers with farm jobs.

According to the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, last month growers reported they were getting only 30% to 50% of the workers they needed. Deal said about 25% of the 8,000 probationers in southwest Georgia are unemployed. Charles Hall, executive director of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, said he has been in contact with Labor Commissioner Mark Butler and Agricultural Commissioner Gary Black. Hall said it’s possible state officials could hold job fairs to steer some of Georgia’s unemployed workers to these farm jobs, which pay $12.50 an hour on average.

Cont'd at the link: http://atlanta.cbslocal.com/2011/06/15/governor-deal-suggests-probationers-fill-farm-jobs/

[ej510]

1. The Prison Industrial Complex is growing everyday.

[SoCalDem]

2. $12.50 hr for FARM JOBS?

Somehow I am having a hard time buying that one.. Maybe the supervisors make that much, but I'm not buying the rest of this "plan".

[ej510]

3. They will be paid minimum wage.