Frequently Asked Questions
- What does the program cost?
- Do the workers placed by your program have experience?
- How will I communicate with my new employee?
- How long does it take to get workers to my farm?
- Are they legal? How long can they stay in the U.S. and work?
- What else am I required to provide?
- What do I do for healthcare if my workers get sick or injured?
- Are they reliable? How do I know they will show up for work every day?
Farmers must pay the workers a minimum starting wage of $7.00 to $7.50 per hour and provide modestly furnished housing with utilities included. APS charges set-up, placement, and service fees depending on the level of service provided.
Many of our workers have experience working with animals in their home countries. Some have worked for us previously on dairies in the United States, but many have no experience on modern dairy farm. We are experts in selecting and training farm workers and can guarantee your satisfaction with your new employees.
Our qualified staff is available and trained to respond to communication needs through on-farm visits, phone calls, and written translations in Spanish. A bilingual agricultural handbook is provided, with commonly used agricultural terms for both employer and employee. In addition, employer and employee learn new words in each other’s languages, which help break down the language barrier. A couple words along with gestures can go a long way.
Once we have an official worker request from the farm, we generally are able to select, locate, and transport the chosen workers to your farm within 2 weeks.
APS guarantees we will examine potential workers’ documents. If they appear genuine and represent the bearer as required by law, APS will complete the necessary paperwork (W-4, I-9, worker contract) required by your state and the U.S. government. The U.S. government is required to determine if the workers’ documents are official. They may work in the U.S. until their resident alien card expires—usually several years.
Along with the housing, we ask the employer to provide a telephone, TV, Spanish cable/satellite programming equipment. Since your employees have no vehicles, they should be taken on weekly trips for groceries, banking, and the Post Office.
Reachable migrant health clinics or offices that provide a sliding-fee scale for low-income families are available in most areas. When an employee is injured on the job, Workers’ Compensation should cover the healthcare costs.
Most APS workers have invested heavily in the opportunity to find jobs to support their families at home. What drives them to be reliable is a better quality of life for their families, a strong work ethic, and a desire to please the employer.
