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Agricultural workers maintain the quality of farms, crops and livestock by operating machinery and doing physical labor under the supervision of farmers, ranchers and other agricultural managers. Even though the agricultural workforce as a whole is shrinking as more and more small farmers leave the land, the number of waged agricultural workers is growing in most regions of the world.
Such workers do not form a homogeneous group. Their terms and conditions of employment vary tremendously, creating diverse categories: permanent (full-time) agricultural workers, temporary agricultural workers, seasonal agricultural workers, migrant agricultural workers, piece-rate workers or workers receiving some form of “in-kind) payment. They work within an employment relationship, be it with a farmer, farming or plantation company, or labor contractor or sub-contractor.
Full-time (permanent) workers
Full-time, permanent agricultural workers receive more hob security, relatively higher wages, better housing and better health and work benefits than do other wages agricultural workers. However, this does not mean that such workers are well-paid, relative to the average wage levels in a given country. Wages in rural areas, both in cash terms and in real terms, are generally lower than in cities, and the hours of work are longer.
Permanent contracts are the least common form of contract and their share in total agricultural employment has been declining in most countries. There is a trend away from full-time employment to more casual and seasonal employment, often referred to as the “casualization” of employment, with little or no social protection.
Casual, temporary and seasonal workers
The majority of wages agricultural workers in most developing countries and in some developed countries are employed on a seasonal and often a casual or temporary basis. Casual work refers to those employed and paid at the end of each day worked or on a task basis. Temporary work refers to those employed for a specific but limited period of time. Most seasonal, casual or temporary workers do not receive any form of social security or unemployment benefit, holidays with pay, or sickness or maternity leave. The practice of rotating individual workers so as to deny them the benefit of permanent employment status is also quite prevalent.
Migrant workers
Migrant workers are found in all types of employment relationships as casual, temporary, seasonal or even full-time workers. They may be migrant workers from a different part of a country, or foreign workers. Wherever they come from, migrant workers are always heavily disadvantaged in terms of pay, social protection, housing and medical protection.
Globalization and structural adjustment have transformed agriculture in many countries into an export-oriented sector heavily dependent on migrant labor. Famers respond to the pressure by decreasing their labor costs, thus passing the burden on to the workers. Low pay and status for hard work is not attractive for the national workforce. Therefore farmers rely increasingly on migrant labor.
Indigenous rural workers
Indigenous agricultural workers form part of the agricultural workforce in many countries. Having been forced off their own lands, they often end up as agricultural workers, usually under poor employment and working conditions. The living and working conditions of indigenous workers and their families are below the average for workers belonging to what is referred to as the “predominant society”, including non-indigenous rural workers. These differences are evident in access to education, social security, level of trade union membership, salaries and occupational health and safety.
Source: Agriculture labor advice
Such workers do not form a homogeneous group. Their terms and conditions of employment vary tremendously, creating diverse categories: permanent (full-time) agricultural workers, temporary agricultural workers, seasonal agricultural workers, migrant agricultural workers, piece-rate workers or workers receiving some form of “in-kind) payment. They work within an employment relationship, be it with a farmer, farming or plantation company, or labor contractor or sub-contractor.
Full-time (permanent) workers
Full-time, permanent agricultural workers receive more hob security, relatively higher wages, better housing and better health and work benefits than do other wages agricultural workers. However, this does not mean that such workers are well-paid, relative to the average wage levels in a given country. Wages in rural areas, both in cash terms and in real terms, are generally lower than in cities, and the hours of work are longer.
Permanent contracts are the least common form of contract and their share in total agricultural employment has been declining in most countries. There is a trend away from full-time employment to more casual and seasonal employment, often referred to as the “casualization” of employment, with little or no social protection.
Casual, temporary and seasonal workers
The majority of wages agricultural workers in most developing countries and in some developed countries are employed on a seasonal and often a casual or temporary basis. Casual work refers to those employed and paid at the end of each day worked or on a task basis. Temporary work refers to those employed for a specific but limited period of time. Most seasonal, casual or temporary workers do not receive any form of social security or unemployment benefit, holidays with pay, or sickness or maternity leave. The practice of rotating individual workers so as to deny them the benefit of permanent employment status is also quite prevalent.
Migrant workers
Migrant workers are found in all types of employment relationships as casual, temporary, seasonal or even full-time workers. They may be migrant workers from a different part of a country, or foreign workers. Wherever they come from, migrant workers are always heavily disadvantaged in terms of pay, social protection, housing and medical protection.
Globalization and structural adjustment have transformed agriculture in many countries into an export-oriented sector heavily dependent on migrant labor. Famers respond to the pressure by decreasing their labor costs, thus passing the burden on to the workers. Low pay and status for hard work is not attractive for the national workforce. Therefore farmers rely increasingly on migrant labor.
Indigenous rural workers
Indigenous agricultural workers form part of the agricultural workforce in many countries. Having been forced off their own lands, they often end up as agricultural workers, usually under poor employment and working conditions. The living and working conditions of indigenous workers and their families are below the average for workers belonging to what is referred to as the “predominant society”, including non-indigenous rural workers. These differences are evident in access to education, social security, level of trade union membership, salaries and occupational health and safety.
Source: Agriculture labor advice