America's farms feed the country―especially during a pandemic. But right now, nearly two-thirds of farmworkers who are keeping grocery stores stocked through the crisis are vulnerable due to legal loopholes.

The farmworkers who grow, pick and pack the food that ends up on our grocery store shelves have been deemed “essential” workers during the coronavirus pandemic, but are vulnerable and need additional health and safety measures in place to protect them from being infected by, and spreading, the coronavirus. Despite the important and essential work they do, Economic Policy Institute research reveals that U.S. farmworkers are paid very low wages, earning less than workers without a high school degree and only earning two-fifths of what comparable workers outside of agriculture earn.

In addition, migrant guestworkers are at risk. According to EPI analysis, about 10% of all farmworkers in the United States—over 200,000 workers—are migrant guestworkers employed with temporary work visas through the H-2A program. H-2A workers face particular challenges because their visa is tied to their employer—rendering them virtually indentured to their bosses—and numerous reports and media exposés have revealed that they are frequently the victims of wage theft, financial bondage and other workplace violations.

They need additional protections because many live in cramped employer-provided housing and are transported in buses to and from worksites every day. To add insult to injury, NPR revealed this month that the Trump administration wants to give H-2A workers a pay cut.  

Sign the petition to Congress to protect farmworkers and to ensure our food chain is not threatened during the pandemic.