---
kind: "section"
citation: "29 U.S.C. § 1821"
title: "29"
title_heading: "Labor"
number: "1821"
heading: "Information and recordkeeping requirements"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/29/1821"
units:
  - "Chapter 20 — Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection"
  - "Subchapter II — Migrant Agricultural Worker Protections"
---

# §1821. Information and recordkeeping requirements

- (a) **Written disclosure requirements imposed upon recruiters—** Each [farm labor contractor](/usc/29/1802.md?p=7), [agricultural employer](/usc/29/1802.md?p=2), and [agricultural association](/usc/29/1802.md?p=1) which recruits any [migrant agricultural worker](/usc/29/1802.md?p=8-A) shall ascertain and disclose in writing to each such worker who is recruited for employment the following information at the time of the worker’s recruitment:
  - (1) the place of employment;
  - (2) the wage rates to be paid;
  - (3) the crops and kinds of activities on which the worker may be employed;
  - (4) the period of employment;
  - (5) the transportation, housing, and any other employee benefit to be provided, if any, and any costs to be charged for each of them;
  - (6) the existence of any strike or other concerted work stoppage, slowdown, or interruption of operations by employees at the place of employment;
  - (7) the existence of any arrangements with any owner or agent of any establishment in the area of employment under which the [farm labor contractor](/usc/29/1802.md?p=7), the [agricultural employer](/usc/29/1802.md?p=2), or the [agricultural association](/usc/29/1802.md?p=1) is to receive a commission or any other benefit resulting from any sales by such establishment to the workers; and
  - (8) whether [State](/usc/29/1802.md?p=12) workers’ compensation insurance is provided, and, if so, the name of the [State](/usc/29/1802.md?p=12) workers’ compensation insurance carrier, the name of the policyholder of such insurance, the name and the telephone number of each [person](/usc/29/1802.md?p=9) who must be notified of an injury or death, and the time period within which such notice must be given.

  Compliance with the disclosure requirement of [paragraph (8)](#a-8) for a [migrant agricultural worker](/usc/29/1802.md?p=8-A) may be met if such worker is given a photocopy of any notice regarding workers’ compensation insurance required by law of the [State](/usc/29/1802.md?p=12) in which such worker is employed. Such worker shall be given such disclosure regarding workers’ compensation at the time of recruitment or if sufficient information is unavailable at that time, at the earliest practicable time but in no event later than the commencement of work.

- (b) **Posting requirements imposed upon employers—** Each [farm labor contractor](/usc/29/1802.md?p=7), [agricultural employer](/usc/29/1802.md?p=2), and [agricultural association](/usc/29/1802.md?p=1) which [employs](/usc/29/1802.md?p=5) any [migrant agricultural worker](/usc/29/1802.md?p=8-A) shall, at the place of employment, post in a conspicuous place a poster provided by the [Secretary](/usc/29/1802.md?p=11) setting forth the rights and protections afforded such workers under this chapter, including the right of a [migrant agricultural worker](/usc/29/1802.md?p=8-A) to have, upon request, a written statement provided by the [farm labor contractor](/usc/29/1802.md?p=7), [agricultural employer](/usc/29/1802.md?p=2), or [agricultural association](/usc/29/1802.md?p=1), of the information described in [subsection (a)](#a). Such employer shall provide upon request, a written statement of the information described in [subsection (a)](#a).
- (c) **Posting or notice requirements imposed upon housing providers—** Each [farm labor contractor](/usc/29/1802.md?p=7), [agricultural employer](/usc/29/1802.md?p=2), and [agricultural association](/usc/29/1802.md?p=1) which provides housing for any [migrant agricultural worker](/usc/29/1802.md?p=8-A) shall post in a conspicuous place or present to such worker a statement of the terms and conditions, if any, of occupancy of such housing.
- (d) **Recordkeeping and information requirements imposed upon employers—** Each [farm labor contractor](/usc/29/1802.md?p=7), [agricultural employer](/usc/29/1802.md?p=2), and [agricultural association](/usc/29/1802.md?p=1) which [employs](/usc/29/1802.md?p=5) any [migrant agricultural worker](/usc/29/1802.md?p=8-A) shall—
  - (1) with respect to each such worker, make, keep, and preserve records for three years of the following information:
    - (A) the basis on which wages are paid;
    - (B) the number of piecework units earned, if paid on a piecework basis;
    - (C) the number of hours worked;
    - (D) the total pay period earnings;
    - (E) the specific sums withheld and the purpose of each sum withheld; and
    - (F) the net pay; and
  - (2) provide to each such worker for each pay period, an itemized written statement of the information required by paragraph (1) of this subsection.
- (e) **Furnishing of records by farm labor contractor; maintenance of records by recipient—** Each [farm labor contractor](/usc/29/1802.md?p=7) shall provide to any other [farm labor contractor](/usc/29/1802.md?p=7), and to any [agricultural employer](/usc/29/1802.md?p=2) and [agricultural association](/usc/29/1802.md?p=1) to which such [farm labor contractor](/usc/29/1802.md?p=7) has furnished [migrant agricultural workers](/usc/29/1802.md?p=8-A), copies of all records with respect to each such worker which such [farm labor contractor](/usc/29/1802.md?p=7) is required to retain by [subsection (d)(1)](#d-1). The recipient of such records shall keep them for a period of three years from the end of the period of employment.
- (f) **Prohibition on knowingly providing false or misleading information to workers—** No [farm labor contractor](/usc/29/1802.md?p=7), [agricultural employer](/usc/29/1802.md?p=2), or [agricultural association](/usc/29/1802.md?p=1) shall knowingly provide false or misleading information to any [migrant agricultural worker](/usc/29/1802.md?p=8-A) concerning the terms, conditions, or existence of [agricultural employment](/usc/29/1802.md?p=3) required to be disclosed by subsection [(a)](#a), [(b)](#b), [(c)](#c), or [(d)](#d).
- (g) **Form and language requirements—** The information required to be disclosed by subsections [(a)](#a) through [(c)](#c) of this section to [migrant agricultural workers](/usc/29/1802.md?p=8-A) shall be provided in written form. Such information shall be provided in English or, as necessary and reasonable, in Spanish or other language common to [migrant agricultural workers](/usc/29/1802.md?p=8-A) who are not fluent or literate in English. The Department of Labor shall make forms available in English, Spanish, and other languages, as necessary, which may be used in providing workers with information required under this section.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 97–470, title II, § 201, Jan. 14, 1983, 96 Stat. 2590; Pub. L. 104–49, § 4(a), Nov. 15, 1995, 109 Stat. 434.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1995—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 104–49 added par. (8) and concluding provisions.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1995 Amendment

Pub. L. 104–49, § 4(c), Nov. 15, 1995, 109 Stat. 434, provided that: “The amendments made by subsections (a) and (b) [amending this section and section 1831 of this title] shall take effect upon the expiration of 90 days after the date final regulations are issued by the Secretary of Labor to implement such amendments.” [Final regulations implementing Pub. L. 104–49 were signed May 13, 1996, published May 16, 1996, 61 F.R. 24858, and effective the same day.]

### Effective Date

Section effective 90 days from Jan. 14, 1983, see section 524 of Pub. L. 97–470, set out as a note under section 1801 of this title.