AUGUSTA, Maine — Gov. Janet Mills on Wednesday introduced new legislation to establish a minimum hourly wage for Maine farmworkers.
The legislation would require workers employed in agricultural jobs to be paid at least $14.15 an hour — the same minimum hourly wage required for other workers under Maine state law, according to a press release from the Mills administration.
Farmworkers' wages would be subject to the same annual cost-of-living increases provided to other hourly workers, subject to minimum wage requirements, starting in 2025, according to the release.
Mills' legislation was informed by a stakeholder group — the Agricultural Worker Minimum Wage Committee — which Mills established last year. The legislation, which considers the varying perspectives of farmworkers, farm employers, and advocates, would:
- Align the minimum wage for agricultural workers with the minimum wage under current Maine law.
- Establish the minimum wage for agricultural workers in state law separately from other minimum wage provisions, ensuring that the Legislature considers the uniqueness of the farm sector when contemplating future statutory changes.
- Require employers to keep accurate record of hours worked by employees and wages paid, retain records for at least three years, and provide each employee with a statement of wages.
“Maine’s agricultural industry, along with the hardworking farmers and farm workers who sustain it, are a cornerstone of our economy — and we cannot achieve a healthy industry without supporting both in a balanced way,” Mills said in a statement. “While I recognize this legislation does not entirely achieve everyone’s aims, it takes into account a diverse set of perspectives and appropriately balances the need to establish a minimum wage for farm workers with the unique and diverse challenges of running a farm in Maine. I thank the Agricultural Worker Minimum Wage Committee for its work over the past several months and urge the Legislature to pass this bill."
House Speaker Rachel Talbot Ross said, “Farming is one of the state’s proudest heritage industries and an integral part of our economy. Mainers recognize that farmers and farmworkers are hardworking people. And we also recognize there are serious and deeply entrenched structural and systemic problems in this sector. This legislation will allow Maine to take a significant step in working towards equitable conditions and finally guarantees a minimum wage for this essential work. This bill is the result of an arduous and inclusive stakeholder process. I commend Governor Mills for her commitment to fostering this conversation and her work to ensure we have a thriving agricultural workforce for the years to come.”
In a joint statement, Labor Commissioner Laura Fortman and Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Commissioner Amanda Beal said, "We want to thank the Committee for their time and dedication to this important issue. We know there were a wide range of strongly-held perspectives on both sides of this issue and that agreement was difficult to find, but we also believe it is important to recognize that the vast majority of folks agreed on three things during the Committee process: that agriculture is a unique industry in Maine; that the vital work performed by agricultural workers is essential to the success of the industry; and that that work should be fairly compensated in line with the state minimum wage. We believe this legislation achieves that goal.”
The Legislature sent Mills a bill in July 2023 aimed at applying certain wage requirements for agricultural workers.
"The legislation was substantially amended during the final hours of the regular legislative session, raising serious concerns from the agricultural community about the scope of the legislation," the release stated.
The Legislature could not recall the bill to clarify concerns within a 10-day window required by the state Constitution, so Mills vetoed it. She said she did so “reluctantly because I strongly support a minimum wage for farm workers.” As part of her veto message, she said she would establish a formal stakeholder group to reach an agreement on how to implement a minimum wage for agricultural workers. The governor signed an executive order the following week to move the process forward. The Agricultural Worker Minimum Wage Committee then met multiple times over four months and the co-chairs issued a report in February.
If the new legislation passes, the minimum wage for agricultural workers will take effect Sept. 1, 2024.
The annual cost-of-living adjustments, based on the consumer price index, would start Jan. 1, 2025.
Mills' legislation – LD 2273, An Act to Establish a State Minimum Hourly Wage for Agricultural Workers — is expected to be considered by the Joint Standing Committee on Labor and Housing. A copy of the bill can be found here.
