¿Trabajo digno en la zona central de Puerto Rico?: Abordaje del Trabajo Social a la política pública sobre la escasez de trabajadores agrícolas

Abstract

Social research needs to understand social reality in its complexity in order to outline strategies to attain its transformation. In the central region of Puerto Rico, the impact of coffee production is vital to achieve economic and social development of their communities. The most recent statistics report low economic growth and high unemployment in coffee municipalities. In order to analyze, from the intervention of Social Work, the economic and social policies that have been formulated to overcome the problem of the shortage of agricultural workers in the central zone, a mixed method investigation was conducted. First a quantitative phase followed by a qualitative phase. The article presents a contextual analysis of the narratives of agricultural workers, farmers, and public policy experts. The findings reveal the implications of poverty, inequalities and stigmatization for the quality of life of the participants. It is also stated that the public policy formulated does not harmonize with the realities of wages, farm conditions and government services in the area. Finally, it is proposed to equate the agricultural minimum wage to that of other labor sectors, the deconstruction of stereotypes that legitimize discrimination, oppression and marginalization; and the family farming as an articulating element of generational change, community spaces and the creation of employments and income.