Bill > S1837

This bill aims to establish fairness for agricultural laborers in Massachusetts. The key provisions include: 1. Providing a tax credit to employers who pay overtime wages to agricultural and farm workers, with a credit of up to 30% for year-round workers and up to 50% for seasonal workers. 2. Requiring agricultural and farm workers to accrue paid time off at a rate of 1 hour for every 40 hours worked, up to a maximum of 55 hours per year, with certain exceptions and rules around accrual and usage. 3. Mandating that employers who hire seasonal agricultural and farm workers provide overtime pay for any work exceeding 55 hours per week. 4. Removing the exemption for agricultural and farm work from the definition of "occupation" in the state's labor laws, bringing these workers under the same protections as other occupations. 5. Defining "seasonal" agricultural and farm work as labor performed during a period of up to 235 consecutive days, or a period of up to 100 continuous days beginning no earlier than August 1. 6. Requiring employers to provide two 15-minute paid breaks for agricultural and farm workers laboring 8 hours or more per day.

Budget and Finance

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/S1837