Legislature has two bills that require overtime pay for farm workers
By Terry Murry on Wednesday, March 3rd, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
SALEM – There are two bills before the Oregon Legislature that would require farmers to pay overtime for workers who put in more than 40 hours a week. Sen. Bill Hansell (R-Athena) says Senate Bill 616, sponsored by Sen. Lew Frederick (D-Portland), still sits before the Senate Labor and Business Committee.
“I don’t know that there will be a hearing or not, but it isn’t slated for a hearing at this time, Hansell said. “There has been a fair degree of opposition brought forward, so I don’t know what the future of it is going to be.”
A similar bill introduced in the House of Representatives is moving somewhat quicker. House Bill 2358 has a public hearing scheduled for Monday, March 8 before the House Business and Labor Committee.
The sponsors of both measures do not represent largely agricultural districts. They hail from Portland, Lake Oswego, Gresham, Eugene, and Tigard.
