Farm Labor Contractor Requirements

You are a farm labor contractor if:

for a fee, you employ workers to render services connected with the production of farm products, on behalf of a grower, and
for a fee, you furnish board, lodging or transportation for workers and supervise their work, or disburse wages to such persons.
Farm labor contractors are required to be registered with the U.S. Department of Labor and be licensed with the California Department of Industrial Relations.

Farm labor contractors are also required to register with the County Agricultural Commissioner in each county where they perform work. However, you must be properly registered with the federal government first, then become licensed with the state, and then register with the County Agricultural Commissioner.

The purpose for registering with the County Agricultural Commissioner is to have an opportunity to inform farm labor contractors about field worker safety as it relates to pesticide use. For example, there are regulations that require farm labor contractors to inform or train their employees about the hazards of pesticides as it relates to them working in fields. If you would like more information about these requirements, please contact the County Agricultural Commissioner's Office at (707) 565-2371.

To register with the United States Department of Labor you will need to fill out the FLC Registration Application (form WH-530). For more information you may contact the following:
U.S. Department of Labor
Wage and Hour Division (WHD)
90 7th Street, Suite 13-100
San Francisco, CA 94103-6719
(415) 625-7720
(866) 487-9243
http://www.dol.gov/whd/programs/dbra/west.htm

To become licensed with the state you may contact the following:

Department of Industrial Relations
State Labor Commissioner
455 Golden Gate Avenue, 9th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94102

Farm Labor Contractor License Information: https://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/Obtainalicense.html
Division of Labor Standards Enforcement Resource Guide: http://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/Resources.html
Farm labor Contractor Exam Study Guide: http://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/FLC_stdygd_8.3.10-LowRez.pdf