New Farm Labor Rules

New Farm Labor Rules. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Fruit Grower Report.

Under changes published by the U.S. Labor Department, companies that seek H-2A visas for ag workers will have to provide documented evidence that they have looked for qualified U.S. citizens to fill the jobs. Previously, they only had to indicate they had looked for qualified workers. American Farm Bureau Labor Specialist Ron Gaskill says its right to require that jobs go first to U.S. citizens, but the new requirements will make it even more difficult for farmers to find the workers they need. 

GASKILL: It’s incredibly unrealistic.  It just doesn’t make sense.  The administration and congress have completely overestimated the willingness of domestic workers to take farm jobs.  People don’t want to work on farms.  It's physically-demanding, all-weather work.  It’s very, very difficult.  In agriculture there has been a deficit of workers. Even in current times of economic hardship.

AFBF President Bob Stallman says - the new program will be the most difficult ever for agricultural employers to administer. Gaskill says one new provision will likely be the most painful for farmers.

GASKILL: The wage change will probably have the most significant impact.  That is the one issue where the department really had an opportunity to make a good positive change in terms of enforcing a prevailing wage.  That’s all employers want is simply to pay the prevailing wage that’s in the area the wage is the number one issue as far as employers are concerned because it’s the most costly part of the program. 

The rule will be effective March 15, 2010. More tomorrow.
That’s today’s Fruit Grower Report. I’m Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.