La Opinión, News Report, Posted: Aug 22, 2012

Editors of Los Angeles Spanish-language newspaper La Opinión write that they hope Gov. Jerry Brown will sign into law a new bill that would grant overtime to California farmworkers.

The California Senate voted Monday to institute daily eight-hour shifts and 40-hour workweeks for farmworkers. To date, a 1941 law requiring overtime pay only when farmworkers work more than 10 hours per day or 60 hours per week is in place. The overtime benefits bill is ready for Gov. Brown's signature.

An editorial in La Opinión argues that "what is unacceptable is continuing to exempt that sector from laws that apply to everyone and even less claiming that these workers are being exploited for their own benefit."

Two other bills currently in Sacramento would take additional steps to improve working conditions for farmworkers. One bill would increase protection from the heat for workers; the other would penalize those who do not provide water and shade as stipulated by law.

"Just like the contributions of the agricultural industry to California's economy, the work of farm laborers must be valued," editors write.