The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has finally revealed what the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) will be for 2021. Employers of H-2A workers will now know what wage expectations …
DOL Issues Final Rule for H-2A Certification Program
A final rule was recently issued that will update the H-2A certification program. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced the amendments on January 15. The announcement comes after extensive …
H-2A Wage Freeze Blocked by Federal Judge Ruling
A federal judge has blocked the H-2A wage freeze that the Department of Labor (DOL) announced back in November. The DOL decision would have kept H-2A wages at 2020 rates …
Federal Judge Rejects USDA Changes to H-2A Program
An update to the H-2A program has been put on hold by a California federal court. The Department of Labor’s decision to freeze farm workers’ wages for those using the …
California Citrus Mutual Encourages Participation in H-2A Survey
California Citrus Mutual (CCM) is encouraging industry participation in their brief labor survey. The data that is collected through the survey will be used in advocacy efforts on the state …
H-2A Labor Rates Stay the Same Through 2022
A legal compromise stabilizes H-2A labor rates for two more years. In an effort to reduce production costs, the U.S. Department of Agriculture tried to discontinue the use of its Farm …
H-2A Wages to Remain Stable Over the Next Two Years
The Department of Labor (DOL) has announced that H-2A wages will remain at 2020 rates for the next two years. DOL is revising the methodology for how the department determines …
Farmworker Housing Construction Gets Easier in San Luis Obispo
The construction of farmworker housing should be a bit simpler in San Luis Obispo (SLO) County after a series of actions by the SLO County Board of Supervisors. The country …
Increased H-2A Flexibility to Ensure Food Production Continues
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has made an announcement to allow more H-2A flexibility, with the support of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The temporary final rule will …
USDA and DOL Announce Information Sharing to Assist H-2A Employers
(Washington, D.C., March 19, 2020) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced a partnership between the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) …
Ag Groups Urge Action After Adverse Effect Wage Rate Increase
A group of agricultural organizations known collectively as the Agriculture Workforce Coalition (AWC) is calling on Congress to address concerns related to the Adverse Effect Wage Rate. The coalition which …
Significant Support for Farm Workforce Modernization Act
The Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2019 that was introduced by Representatives Zoe Lofgren and Dan Newhouse is receiving significant support from the agricultural industry. The bipartisan bill seeks to …
Farmworker Housing Bill: ‘No farmer is going to use this.’
Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed Assembly Bill 1783 (AB 1783) into law, significantly altering how farmworker housing will be administered in California. AB 1783, the Farmworker Housing Act of 2019, …
Perdue Comments on Administrative Actions to Streamline H-2A Process
(Washington, D.C. (USDA-Sept. 20, 2019) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue issued the following statement highlighting actions announced by the Department of Labor (DOL) which will modernize the burdensome H2A …