While piece rates and hourly wages may be justified from labor market forces of supply and demand, worker advocates argue that the wage scale for farmworkers is an artifact of employer exploitation. Poor housing, unsafe working conditions, and undue exposure to pesticides are other issues advocates voice on behalf of farm workers. Social justice issues increase costs to agricultural employers both directly and indirectly. Direct costs could be in the form of legal expenses defending against a cadre of attorneys who expose grower missteps concerning fair labor practices, payment of correct compensation, and general working conditions. Direct cost may also take the form of increased regulations, as farmworker advocates pass laws to increase the minimum wage or tighten requirements for safer pesticide handling.
Indirect costs occur through negative publicity.
Each strategy has potential benefits and costs. The Florida citrus industry is investing resources into machines that will mechanically harvest citrus for processing. Within five years, officials at the Florida Department of Citrus predict machines will handle 20 percent of the state citrus harvest. Harvesting machines for citrus will substantially reduce the demand for harvesting labor, perhaps by as much as 60 percent. For the workers who remain in the harvesting operations, their professional status will be elevated to machine operators.