Safe Transportation for Migrant Workers
Worker transportation is directly tied to the family’s income, housing, stability and work life. To hand harvest Michigan’s specialty crops, workers usually travel to their work sites across county lines, U.S. states, and/or from other countries. They may find themselves bussed in groups, captive to their employer, in company vehicles or vans, or in carpool arrangements.
Auto accidents are a leading cause of death among workers, and history has shown us that farmworkers die at the hands of unlicensed, dangerous, and unfit vehicles and drivers. Families who own their own vehicle may find difficulty getting a driver’s license, obtaining affordable auto insurance, paying for vehicle repairs, or finding fair terms in vehicle purchases. Migrant Legal Aid helps workers with these challenges, to reduce their vulnerabilities and dependence on unsafe transportation.
Migrant Legal Aid also educates workers on the rights and responsibilities of Michigan’s rules of the road.