N.Y. Labor Law § 670: Statement of public policy; findings

§ 670. Statement of public policy; findings. The legislature of the

state of New York declares that it is the public policy of the state and

the purpose of this act that minimum wage standards shall apply to farm

workers, so as to eliminate as rapidly as practicable the employment of

farm workers at wages insufficient to provide adequate maintenance and

protection of health, without substantially curtailing opportunities for

employment or earning power.

The legislature hereby finds that the establishment of minimum wage

standards for farm laborers involves distinct and unusual problems; that

the agricultural labor force is made up of regular all-year workers as

well as short-term seasonal workers; that although some workers are paid

on an hourly basis, many are paid on a piecework, weekly, monthly, or

other basis; and that the agricultural industry is particularly affected

by weather and market conditions and by perishability of products.

Accordingly, the legislature further declares that it is the purpose of

this act to provide a flexible approach with full consideration of the

unusual problems involved.