103.915 Migrant work agreements.

(1) No person may bring or arrange for another to bring a migrant worker into this state for employment, by means of an express or implied job offer induce a migrant worker to come into this state for employment, otherwise recruit a migrant worker to come into this state for employment, or hire a migrant worker for employment in this state unless that person does all of the following:

(a) At the time of the worker's recruitment, provides the migrant worker a written recruiting disclosure statement containing the information required in a work agreement under this section.

(b) At the time of hiring, provides the migrant worker a written work agreement as specified in this section, which shall be signed by the employer and by each migrant worker or head of a family if a family is employed.

(2) The department shall issue a standard form for written work agreements required under this section. An employer may elect not to use such form. If an employer does not use the standard form, the employer shall use a form approved by the department.

(3) In fulfilling its duties under s. 103.905, the department may inspect any work agreement signed under this section.

(4) The work agreement shall include the following:

(a) A statement of the place of employment, kind of work available, applicable wage rates, pay period, approximate hours of employment including overtime applicable, term of employment including approximate beginning and ending dates, kind of housing and any charges in connection therewith, cost of meals if provided by the employer, transportation arrangements, the names of all persons in the family employed if a family is employed and any other charges or deductions from wages beyond those required by law.

(b) A guarantee of a minimum of 20 hours of work in a one-week period or a minimum of 64 hours of work in a 2-week period, the work to be the same as or similar to the kind of work specified in the work agreement. The work agreement shall clearly state whether the guarantee is on the basis of a one-week or 2-week period. In the case of a migrant worker employed exclusively in agricultural labor as defined in s. 108.02 (2), the guarantee shall be a minimum of 45 hours in each 2-week period, the work to be the same as or similar to the kind of work specified in the work agreement. The minimum guarantee shall be satisfied if the worker's earnings equal the number of hours guaranteed under this paragraph multiplied by the wage rate specified in the work agreement. The guarantee shall cover the period from the date the worker is notified by the employer to report for work, which date shall be reasonably related to the approximate beginning date specified in the work agreement, or the date the worker reports for work, whichever is later, and continuing until the final termination of employment, as specified in the work agreement, or earlier if the worker is terminated for cause or due to seriously adverse circumstances beyond the employer's control. If the beginning or ending period of employment does not coincide with the employer's pay period, the employer may reduce the guarantee for such beginning or ending period to an amount which is equal to the number of days in the beginning or ending period of employment multiplied by one-sixth of the guarantee if the employer's guarantee is on a weekly basis or multiplied by one-twelfth of the guarantee if the employer's guarantee is on a biweekly basis. If a worker is not available for work, the employer may reduce the minimum guarantee by an amount equal to the wages the worker would have earned if the worker had been available for work. This paragraph shall not apply to any person who is under the age of 18 years and who is a member of a household which contains a worker covered by a migrant work agreement under this section. The payment of the minimum guarantee under this paragraph shall be considered the payment of wages under ch. 108.

(c) A guarantee that the wages together with the other terms and conditions of employment are not less favorable than those provided by the employer for local workers for similar work.

(5) If a worker reports for work as notified by an employer and the worker is never employed due to seriously adverse circumstances beyond the employer's control, the employer shall not be obligated to pay the minimum guarantee under sub. (4) (b) but shall be obligated to pay wages to the worker at the agreed rate of pay for the job for which the worker was recruited for the elapsed time from departure to return to the point of departure, which amount shall not be less than 3 nor more than 6 days' pay at 8 hours per day. The employer shall pay the worker the amount required under this subsection within 24 hours after the worker reports to the employer for work.

(6) The work agreement may contain a guarantee which differs from the guarantee required under sub. (4) (b) if the department finds the guarantee to be no less favorable than the guarantee under sub. (4) (b) and approves the terms of the guarantee prior to the time the employer offers the work agreement to any worker.

(7) Temporary work for another employer with the consent of the worker and his or her first employer shall count toward the guarantee required under sub. (4) (b). Such other employer shall not be required to provide the worker a work agreement.

(8) The recruiting disclosure statement and work agreement required under this section shall be written in English and, if the customary language of the migrant worker is not English, in the language of the worker. The department shall, upon request, provide assistance in translating these statements and agreements.

(9) Any employer who does not satisfy the employer's guarantees in a work agreement as required under sub. (4) shall be considered not in compliance with this section.

History: 1977 c. 17; 1983 a. 189 s. 329 (28); 1985 a. 191.