Agricultural & Foreign Labor Services August News and Highlights

It is with a heavy heart that we mourn the passing of Patricia Charmaine Gray, an accomplished and beloved woman who touched the lives of so many in her community. She raised five wonderful children as a single mother and was thankful for the community of friends and extended family she built around her children who support and love them.

Patricia, while raising her five children, obtained multiple degrees, worked full time, and was an active member in her community. She mentored countless students through her work at Adrian College and Sienna Heights University. She helped many women during her time at Catherine Cobb, and later used her fluency in Spanish to help migrant workers and their families throughout the state access resources.

Patricia was also a beloved member of Christ Temple Ministries International in Adrian. It's hard to go anywhere in Adrian without running into someone who knew and loved her. Patricia’s glowing smile and energetic personality will be what people will miss the most, including those who worked closely with her.

On Saturday June 29, more than 600 farmworkers attended the 6^th Annual Bienvenidos Event at the Van Buren Fairgrounds, in the center of one of Michigan's largest farmworker population. 28 partner agencies were onsite providing information and services to attendees.

The success of this event would not have been made possible without the help, commitment and collaboration of the many remarkable partners, sponsors, AFLS staff, volunteers, and support from fair board member Paul Garrod who has been instrumental in the execution of the Bienvenidos event with his continued support and partnership.

A big thank you to Telamon, who provided t-shirts for the volunteers, for their participation and continued support. The AFLS team also recognized the many sponsors for their support and donations that helped give Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers (MSFWs) a token of appreciation for the tireless days they spend out in the fields from sunup to sundown to put food on our table.

MSFWs and their family members were happy and thankful to receive services, gifts and a small box of food. AFLS staff members Elizbia Xaxni-Capula, Hugo Pantoja, and Hector Arroyo Jr., presented Rhonda Keene, Pokagon Band Representative and Board Director of the Pokagon Fund, with a plaque for their continued support of the Bienvenidos Event.

Pokagon Fund’s continued support has been instrumental and has benefited many MSFW families in the community. The AFLS team thanks the Pokagon Fund, Helping Hands, and all of the continuing sponsors for the support of making an impact in welcoming MSFWs and their families.

As we reflect on our experience at the Bienvenidos Event, we are grateful for the thousands of farm workers who make Michigan their home during the harvest season. The AFLS team appreciates the opportunity to collaborate with so many partners in the surrounding community in supporting Michigan’s agriculture workforce.

Recognizing the risks that extreme heat has long posed to certain workers, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration will propose the first-ever federal safety standard addressing excessive heat in the workplace. 

This July, Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su joined President Joe Biden at the D.C. Emergency Response Center where he announced the upcoming proposed rule and other administration actions addressing extreme temperatures.

Read the news release here.

The U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) has released a series of migrant worker right videos that delve into the paycheck issues faced by migrant workers. From delayed payments to wage discrepancies, USDOL explores the common challenges and provides practical advice on how to address and overcome these obstacles.

View the videos here.

Everyone who works in the U.S. has labor rights. Concerns? If you have any concerns, you can speak with an expert confidentially in English or Spanish at 1-866-487-2365 or visit MigrantWorker.gov. 

Discover seasonal jobs or temporary jobs

SeasonalJobs.dol.gov is an online platform that links people to seasonal and temporary employment opportunities throughout the United States.

Whether you’re looking for seasonal work or require a short-term job, the website assists you in finding suitable employment.

Explore Michigan's Hot 50 Job Outlook

The Michigan Hot 50 Job Outlook through 2030 highlights Michigan’s high-demand, high-wage careers that show a favorable mix of projected long-term job growth, projected annual job openings, and median wages through 2030.

Explore the publication here.

July 11, 2024, marked the 50^th anniversary of the Monitor Advocate System. In a recent e-mail from National Monitor Advocate, Laura Tramontana she writes the United States Department of Labor created the Monitor Advocate System to carry out the requirements of the Judge Richey Court Order from July 11, 1974.

The Richey Order established a framework to ensure MSFWs receive services that are qualitatively equivalent and quantitatively proportionate to the services provided to all other job seekers.

The Monitor Advocate System was born as a result of findings that MSFWs experienced issues accessing Employment Services, were subject to discrimination and other labor law violations by employers and had unresolved complaints. Monitor Advocates are connecting directly with farmworkers and employers to discuss services and to identify how their State Workforce Agency might better meet MSFW needs.

As we move past the half-century mark, we are continuing to improve services and protections for MSFWs through the recent Wagner-Peyser Staffing and Farmworker Protection final rules. These rules enhance long-established guidelines by increasing the amount of outreach State Workforce Agencies conduct, clarifying and strengthening the role of the State Monitor Advocate, strengthening Employment Services and Employment-Related Law Complaint System, and clarifying the procedures through which states discontinue providing Employment Services to noncompliant employers, among other worker protections.