# Agricultural Worker Justice Act of 2026 Summary
This comprehensive legislation aims to protect agricultural and meatpacking workers through several major reforms. The bill requires the Department of Agriculture to enforce prevailing wage standards for food workers on government contracts and prohibits companies receiving USDA funds from buying back their own stock or paying dividends. Companies contracting with USDA must disclose any recent labor law violations to the Department of Labor, with serious violators becoming ineligible for federal contracts for up to five years.
The second major section focuses specifically on meatpacking workers, addressing dangerous line speed practices and worker conditions. It prevents the Department of Agriculture from approving faster processing line speeds unless occupational safety experts certify the changes won't harm worker safety. The bill establishes strict "no-fault attendance" policies that protect workers taking legally protected leave like medical appointments or family leave from being penalized. Employers must provide clear written policies explaining these protections in workers' native languages.
For workplace safety, the bill authorizes $60 million annually through 2031 to hire additional OSHA inspectors and requires new safety standards for ergonomic hazards and medical referrals at meatpacking plants. It strengthens whistleblower protections for workers reporting safety concerns, preventing employers from retaliating through discharge, discipline, or immigration-related threats. Workers gain a private right to sue employers for safety violations and can recover damages and attorney fees. Finally, the bill directs a Government Accountability Office study on racial and ethnic disparities in the meatpacking industry within 180 days of enactment.
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