> it suggests to me that some sort of cash-in-hand deal is afoot that isn't in line with local labour practices.
Absolutely. It's exploitative to be sure, at least here in the US. Farms don't want to pay more for labor, and in some cases (perhaps the plurality of them), the migrant laborers are paid under the table to avoid the tax burden on both ends. Of course, this means the company doesn't have to worry about payroll taxes, workman's comp, unemployment, etc., and the workers aren't going to register with the IRS to get a tax ID.
Additionally, the laborers are paid so little it's difficult to think of this in any other way than as a form of slavery sanctioned by the state as it turns a blind eye to what amount to egregious violations of labor laws.
Part of the blame I place on us as consumers. If we weren't so price sensitive to things like fresh produce, perhaps we could pay more such that things are done above board and we become less reliant on migrant labor. Either way, something has to change.
Absolutely. It's exploitative to be sure, at least here in the US. Farms don't want to pay more for labor, and in some cases (perhaps the plurality of them), the migrant laborers are paid under the table to avoid the tax burden on both ends. Of course, this means the company doesn't have to worry about payroll taxes, workman's comp, unemployment, etc., and the workers aren't going to register with the IRS to get a tax ID.
Additionally, the laborers are paid so little it's difficult to think of this in any other way than as a form of slavery sanctioned by the state as it turns a blind eye to what amount to egregious violations of labor laws.
Part of the blame I place on us as consumers. If we weren't so price sensitive to things like fresh produce, perhaps we could pay more such that things are done above board and we become less reliant on migrant labor. Either way, something has to change.