A planned federal crackdown on the hiring of undocumented workers has sparked fears that farmers will be left without workers to pick crops, restaurants without cooks and dishwashers, and small businesses without a ready source of casual labor.
The new rules also are likely to reduce employment in the construction, janitorial and landscaping industries, analysts say.
"It is going to be very difficult on this industry," said Paul Simonds, spokesman for Irvine-based Western Growers, whose members grow and pack about 90% of the produce and nuts produced in California.
The Department of Homeland Security is about to issue new regulations on how businesses must respond when informed that there are discrepancies in a worker's tax records. Many businesses simply ignore such notices now, but under the new rules, employees would have a limited time to contact the Social Security Administration to correct the information. If they do not, employers must fire the worker or face fines.
The rule would transfer more responsibility for enforcement to companies -- part of a Homeland Security effort to break through what some officials say is complacency in the corporate world about illegal workers.
Industries claiming that the rules will undermine the economy are using "scare tactics" to fight the plan, said Russ Knocke, a Homeland Security spokesman.
"Are they suggesting that we should not enforce the law?" Knocke asked. "We have been tough about this, and we are going to be even tougher. There are employers who have gamed the system for years, and the regulations are going to fix that."
Western Growers, which also represents the majority of Arizona farmers, plans to meet with Homeland Security officials Monday to get a better assessment of how the regulations will affect agriculture.
Marc Grossman, spokesman for United Farm Workers of America, believes the rules will be catastrophic for agriculture workers and farms.
"If you were going to fire everyone whose Social Security numbers were not in order, you will lose a majority of the workforce . . . as much as 90% depending on the area," Grossman said.
He said that was why the UFW and farm groups had supported the AgJobs legislation that's stalled in Congress.
