Ag Worker Childcare

Ag Worker Childcare

Ag Worker Childcare. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Fruit Grower Report.

A big issue regarding farm labor is child care, or the lack thereof. The Washington Growers League’s Mike Gempler says a survey from last year showed almost all female workers would work more full time hours if there was child care available.

GEMPLER: We’re doing a survey of, in particular, cherry growers and berry growers to see what they feel their employees need as far as childcare to see what they think their employees also want and what they as employers want. We’re assessing the need from the growers perspective of what the demand is for child care.

He says they hope to get a very clear picture of the need for developing these childcare programs.

GEMPLER: We know that one of the primary reasons that kids end up in the field is because there’s not available childcare. We know that when kids are in the fields that injuries can occur. Workplaces and kids don’t mix very well. If that occurs that’s a tragedy for the family and for the kid and it’s a real black mark on our industry

Gempler says they have set up an online survey for employers that should take less than five minutes to complete.

GEMPLER: It will take money to set up childcare in rural areas where it doesn’t already exist. I mean there is some childcare. You know you have the old Migrant Council and they have some programs - migrant headstart, that kind of thing. Those aren’t always operating when they need to be operating.

That’s today’s Fruit Grower Report. I’m Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network of the West.

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