| Update Applicable to: | Effective Date |
| All Agricultural Employers in Maine | January 1, 2026 |
What happened?
On June 10, 2025, Maine Governor Janet Mills signed LD 589 into law, establishing a state minimum wage for agricultural workers.
Overview:
Farmworkers in Maine will be entitled to the state minimum wage of $14.65 per hour, replacing the previous standard of $7.25 per hour under federal law. This marks a major expansion of labor protections for agricultural employees, who were previously excluded from state wage laws.
Highlights:
- Equal Pay: Agricultural workers will now earn the same minimum wage as other employees in Maine.
- Annual Adjustments: The wage will increase automatically with inflation.
- Enforcement: The Maine Department of Labor has exclusive authority to enforce wage violations.
- Recordkeeping & Penalties: Employers must maintain wage records and may face fines for non-compliance or retaliation.
This new law creates a dedicated section in Maine’s labor code to ensure wage fairness, transparency, and accountability for agricultural workers.
Source References
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