GA's anti illegal worker bill causes farm crisis

http://www.washingto...XWfH_story_1.html

Farmers told state authorities in an unscientific survey that they had more than 11,000 unfilled agriculture jobs, although itÂs not clear how that compares to prior years or whether the shortage can be blamed on the new law.

For more than a week, the stateÂs probation officers have encouraged their unemployed offenders to consider taking field jobs. While most offenders are required to work while on probation, statistics show they have a hard time finding jobs. GeorgiaÂs unemployment rate is nearly 10 percent, but correction officials say among the stateÂs 103,000 probationers, itÂs about 15 percent. Still, offenders can turn down jobs they consider unsuitable, and harvesting is physically demanding.

GA has triggered a farm crisis with a strict anti-illegal bill. Crops are rotting in the fields for lack of people to pick them. The state is trying to fill the gap by pushing people on probation into the jobs, but so far it's going poorly. Not only is it hard and low paying work, but nobody can be bothered to give the probationers any help or information about what they should be doing.

Typical example of not thinking things through. There are often unexpected consequences of laws, but this one was perfectly predictable and the state should have had some contingency plan in place. Plus, notice the subtle point that the shortage is not resulting in higher wages. The idea that the farms should pay more to attract more people and give them a better motivation to stay with it is anathema.

Jay

Post #344,139 by jay 6/24/11 11:30:53 AM Reply	GA's anti illegal worker bill causes farm crisis http://www.washingto...XWfH_story_1.html Farmers told state authorities in an unscientific survey that they had more than 11,000 unfilled agriculture jobs, although itÂs not clear how that compares to prior years or whether the shortage can be blamed on the new law. For more than a week, the stateÂs probation officers have encouraged their unemployed offenders to consider taking field jobs. While most offenders are required to work while on probation, statistics show they have a hard time finding jobs. GeorgiaÂs unemployment rate is nearly 10 percent, but correction officials say among the stateÂs 103,000 probationers, itÂs about 15 percent. Still, offenders can turn down jobs they consider unsuitable, and harvesting is physically demanding. GA has triggered a farm crisis with a strict anti-illegal bill. Crops are rotting in the fields for lack of people to pick them. The state is trying to fill the gap by pushing people on probation into the jobs, but so far it's going poorly. Not only is it hard and low paying work, but nobody can be bothered to give the probationers any help or information about what they should be doing. Typical example of not thinking things through. There are often unexpected consequences of laws, but this one was perfectly predictable and the state should have had some contingency plan in place. Plus, notice the subtle point that the shortage is not resulting in higher wages. The idea that the farms should pay more to attract more people and give them a better motivation to stay with it is anathema. Jay
Post #344,192 by Ashton 6/25/11 7:43:04 AM Reply	Duh.. as-if soft-belly Muricans could/Would cut the Mustard!
Post #344,228 by S1mon_Jester 6/25/11 6:32:53 PM Reply	Re: GA's anti illegal worker bill causes farm crisis --Plus, notice the subtle point that the shortage is not resulting in higher wages. The idea that the farms should pay more to attract more people and give them a better motivation to stay with it is anathema. Can't pay 'em more. The farmers are already competing with out-of-state and out-of-country imports.

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