GAP Connections Releases Agriculture Labor Management Guide
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (PRWEB) February 16, 2015 -- GAP Connections, a nonprofit organization aiming to develop, maintain, and provide leadership for harmonized agricultural standards and practices, recently released the 2015 Agricultural Labor Management Resource Guide. The guide, which was developed by the Farm Labor Practices Group (FLPG), is a tool to help farmers and farmworkers who are involved in the production of labor-intensive crops better understand and comply with applicable labor laws and regulations.
“Being able to educate farmers and workers about what’s expected is one of the most important steps in fostering improved farm labor practices,” said Jane Starnes, executive director of GAP Connections. “By making this resource freely available to growers, we are giving them invaluable information that can help maintain compliance and streamline procedures across the United States.”
The 60 page guide is a comprehensive resource that includes fact sheets on various labor laws and regulations, required forms, as well as reference checklists and guidelines, which include:
• Guidelines for Payment of Farm Labor
• DOL – OSHA Housing Safety and Health Checklists
• Grower Checklist for Labor Postings
• Guidelines for Transportation
• Guidelines when Using FLCs and FLCEs
• Guidelines Regarding Health and Safety/Field Sanitation/Hygiene
• Safety Training Resources
• Farm Worker Rights
“This guide puts all of the information regarding labor for farmers and farmworkers into one convenient resource,” said Starnes. “By developing this document, we are continuing the GAP and FLPG mission of providing growers with the resources they need to develop more efficient and ethical agricultural practices.”
GAP Connections aims to streamline the USDA’s Good Agricultural Practices Program, paying close attention to the tobacco industry, in order to benefit all parties associated with the growing and purchasing of crops. Growers are provided with education and guidelines regarding crop production, managing land use, protecting the environment, ensuring the rights of farm laborers, and simple procedures that better help coordinate with their industry buyers and manufacturers. Company and organization members are given a transparent set of accepted standards and the assurance of quality when they join GAP Connections. In addition to these members, the Associate Membership program allows private and public entities instrumental in agriculture, such as universities, to provide input and expertise that supports GAP education, training, and resource development.
To view The 2015 Labor Resource Management Guide, visit http://www.gapconnections.com/labor-management-guide. The guide is also available to anyone through GAP Connections Mobile App: “GAP Connections Grower.” The app provides special features for GAP Connections members including easy access to their profile information, training history, access report and a list of upcoming events. If your industry or organization would like to find out more about training that GAP Connections provides, including labor training, please call 865-622-4606.
About GAP Connections
GAP Connections is a 501 (c) (5) nonprofit agricultural membership organization that acts as a clearinghouse between growers and manufacturers while developing, maintaining, and providing leadership for industry agricultural standards and practices. GAP Connections strives to create connections between growers and educational opportunities; manufacturers and growers; and tobacco industry entities and potential partners. Growers are provided with the best standards in agricultural practices needed to produce a quality crop while protecting, sustaining or enhancing the environment. To contact with GAP Connections, call 865-622-4606 or visit http://www.gapconnections.com.
About Farm Labor Practices Group
The Farm Labor Practices Group (FLPG) is a group of key stakeholders including manufacturers, buyers, growers, government and non-governmental organizations, whose purpose is to facilitate constructive dialogue about farm labor practices. The goal of the FLPG is to help both farmers and farmworkers in production of labor-intensive crops better understand and comply with applicable labor laws and regulations, and to foster improved farm labor practices, where needed, that shape a worker’s experience on the farm.
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For more information, contact:
Heather Ripley
Ripley PR
865-977-1973
hripley (at) ripleypr (dot) com
Heather Ripley, Ripley PR, http://www.ripleypr.com/, +1 865-977-1973, [email protected]
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