FLCs: An analysis of labor management transfers among California agricultural producers

Abstract

The Immigration and Control Act has been ineffective at controlling the flow of illegal immigration. Instead, it has led to the expansion of farm labor contractor (FLC) usage. Using a survey of California growers, this study analyzes the patterns of increased FLC utilization across regions, commodities, and grower characteristics. The grower's perception about the relative costs and riskiness of FLC versus directly hired labor are found to be the most significant explanatory variables. It is argued that the use of FLCs is expanding beyond its traditional niche of supplying a reliable labor source to incorporate more administrative, regulatory compliance, and risk management activities. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.