The California citrus industry employs over 20,000 people and requires labor nearly year-round. Our long growing season and the need for skilled, hand labor, keeps people working in citrus longer than most other agricultural commodities.

Labor supply is an issue most citrus growers and packers face at various points of the growing and harvest seasons when the demand for workers across the agriculture sector exceeds supply. Unlike in other areas of the country, the E-Verify system does not work well in California. This is why California Citrus Mutual believes federal immigration reform must be addressed.

Agricultural labor is the backbone of our food supply. The United States must adopt federal policies that create a guest worker program that supports food production.

Under the California Immigrant Worker Protection Act (AB 450), employers are required to notify all employees of inspections of their employment records by federal immigration agencies within 72 hours of receiving a federal notice of inspection. The employer’s notifications must be available in the language the employer normally uses to communicate employment information. A notification template provided by DIR Division of Labor Standards Enforcement and Labor Commissioner is available at http://www.dir.ca.gov/DLSE/LC_90.2_EE_Notice.pdf.

Guidance Documents:

California Department of Justice Advisory

Immigrant Worker Protection Act (AB 450) FAQ

Notification Template

A legal analysis prepared by CCM attorneys is available to members online here.