Legal impediments to the freedom of association of agricultural workers remain in some countries, but the real challenge is to assure the full exercise of this right in practice. For agricultural workers, numerous obstacles remain. Collective bargaining is often limited to large plantations. Seasonal, migratory and casual labour processes, with the added constraints of illiteracy, ignorance of workers' rights, and isolation render the task of organizing among rural workers particularly difficult. ILO tripartite bodies have consistently recalled the need to apply in practice basic labour rights in rural areas and strengthen rural workers' organizations.
Contracts of employment are generally precarious in daily and casual work.
Labour is mostly unskilled. The application of basic labour laws is tenuous and labour inspection services are usually weak in most countries. There is widespread recourse to labour contractors who supply labour to a principal employer. Wages in agriculture are typically among the lowest in any given country. Wages are often barely sufficient to meet the basic nutritional requirements of a family.