Migrant labor is important to the tobacco growing community. Philip Morris USA supports efforts for a reasonable system to provide tobacco farmers with a reliable and adequate source of legal workers, while enhancing farm conditions and promoting quality labor standards for workers.
At Philip Morris USA, we understand the importance of guest-workers to the tobacco growing community to help plan with planting and harvesting tobacco.
PM USA addresses this important issue in a number of ways, including:
- We do not engage in or condone the unlawful employment or exploitation of migrant workers and we communicate our expectation to growers that they comply similarly.
- We support the comprehensive regulatory regime in the United States, including laws and inspections overseen by the Department of Labor.
- Our contracts with growers require that all tobacco be harvested in accordance with applicable federal, state and local regulatory requirements and using Good Agricultural Practices.
- Annually, we provide farmers with handbooks that set forth our expectations that farmers comply with the Federal Fair Labor Standards and the Migrant and Seasonal Workers Protection Acts.
- We educate growers on the U.S. EPA Worker Protection Standard, including how workers can be protected from exposure to pesticides.
- We actively engage growers in the use of Good Agricultural Practices, including the use of crop protection agents, farm safety and maintaining complete labor records.
- We engage with growers through annual grower meetings, newsletters and farm visits to further conversations on issues related to migrant labor.
In addition, the Immigration Reform and Control Act’s H2-A program establishes a set of regulations that govern farmers as they hire foreign workers to perform seasonal or temporary agricultural work.
Visit the H2-A website to find out more.
We believe that fair pricing and engagement with growers are the best ways to enhance farm conditions and promote quality labor standards for their workers.
