By Jaci Schreckengost
In order to keep Georgia growers up-to-date about important labor regulations and issues, the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA) held the annual Georgia Agricultural Labor Relations Forum. The event was held at the University of Georgia’s Tifton campus on Nov. 7–8 and had more than 100 people in attendance.
Charles Hall, executive director of the GFVGA, said the event provided growers with new information on issues that could affect them and their employees. “Basically, it’s to provide new information to our growers and agribusinesses that … may be coming out within employment law regulations or practices that they need to follow,” he said.
The event consisted of sessions to inform growers on specific regulations and rules for new companies and organizations. Session topics included information on Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations, I-9 audits and H-2A. New rules regarding record keeping, workers’ compensation, and wage and hour audits were also discussed at the event, Hall said.
“It was just a good cross-section of a number of different areas that growers have to keep up with on an annual basis,” said Hall. He added that it is important to give growers and industry leaders relevant information on new rules and regulations that may have an effect on their current labor processes.
Many agricultural groups sponsored and helped coordinate the event, including the Georgia Agricultural Commodity Commission, the Georgia Peanut Commission, the Georgia Farm Bureau, AgWorks, the Georgia Milk Producers and the Georgia Agribusiness Council.