Civil Rights Commission Releases Findings in Migrant and Seasonal Farmworker Report

Last night, the Michigan Civil Rights Commission voted to adopt a report examining the conditions faced by migrant and seasonal farmworkers in Michigan. The report is the result of a 2009 investigation which included testimony from farmworkers and other interested parties.

"The Commission believes the recommendations and next steps released in conjunction with this report are sound and can only lead to improvements for migrant workers," stated Commission Chairperson Matt Wesaw. "We observed and heard a number of issues, including unsafe housing, allegations of wage theft and difficulties in accessing certain services due to
language barriers. This report will be a vital step toward continued work in these and other areas."

Daniel Krichbaum, Interim Director, Michigan Department of Civil Rights, stated, "This will not be another report for the shelves of policy makers. This report should be viewed as a roadmap for our future efforts. I look forward to working with our state agency partners in reviewing what improvements we can make going forward."

Agriculture is the second largest industry in Michigan, and migrant and seasonal farmworkers are necessary for that industry. The Commission ordered this investigation in part to ensure that Michigan growers can continue to expect a steady supply of farmworkers to contribute to our economy.

The Report, along with Recommendations and an Executive Summary will be available on the Department's website: http://www.michigan.gov/mdcr.