Anna Pedersen and Tom Henderson: Fields of fear: Oregon farmworkers lack safety net as pandemic threatens jobs, health (Street Roots)
Farmworkers are considered essential workers, but they don’t necessarily receive essential services such as health care and unemployment benefits.
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“When we talk about farm-to-table food, we know that an immigrant likely had a hand somewhere in that process,” Hernandez told Street Roots. “And yet, farmworkers don’t have the same rights, and they are under tougher working conditions. During this pandemic, we’re seeing the same thing.”
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“We ask our state government to set up an emergency fund for nonprofit organizations of the state who serve immigrants, refugees, day laborers, farmworkers and people of color — all of whom will be disproportionately affected by COVID-19.”
Specifically, Miranda advocated:
• Unemployment benefits for people regardless of immigration status.
• Statewide rent and mortgage forgiveness.
• Free food and other essential resources to low-income families.
• Universal child care for those who continue working.
• Small-business assistance grants to child-care facility owners.
Some means for field workers to wash their hands would also be nice, Lopez said.
“It’s the most basic thing,” she said. “We’re over here asking for hand-washing stations and soap while everybody else is in this totally different conversation about stimulus money and getting $1,200 per household. That’s just not even our reality. We’re fighting for the basics.”
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Oregon’s U.S. senators, Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, announced April 7 that they would introduce legislation to ensure immigrant workers have access to health care.
The legislation, the Coronavirus Immigrant Families Protection Act, promises immigrant workers access to COVID-19 testing and treatment and other services provided in federal coronavirus relief legislation.
It would provide dedicated funding for CDC to conduct public outreach in multiple languages. The act would also temporarily modify immigration policies that deter immigrants from receiving medical care.
If federal policymakers would like additional advice on reaching farmworkers, Adrien suggested they contact her clinic and other migrant community health centers.