FL Citrus Mutual Release re Labor Dept Guest Worker Proposal

Gary Cooper Citrus, Florida, Specialty Crops, Sugar, Vegetables

LAKELAND, Fla. (February 6, 2008) – Florida Citrus Mutual commended the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Wednesday for proposing changes to the H-2A agricultural guest worker program.
“This proposal is a start to finding solutions to a very complex issue that is critical to Florida citrus growers and U.S. agriculture in general,” said Michael W. Sparks, executive VP/CEO of Florida Citrus Mutual. “H-2A reform is desperately needed. The current program is so cumbersome and prone to delays that many agriculture employers can’t use it.”
“Mutual will continue to lobby Congress for comprehensive immigration reform and a better guest worker program that meets the needs of growers and foreign workers.”
The DOL Wednesday proposed rules to modernize the H-2A program for employing foreign workers in temporary or seasonal agricultural jobs. The DOL said the proposed changes will provide farmers with an orderly and timely flow of legal workers.
Mutual noted several provisions in the DOL proposal that may help Florida citrus growers.
• Applications – Eliminate the duplication of activities currently performed by the State WorkForce agencies (SWAs) and the Dept’s Employment and Training Admin (ETA). Employers would file their H-2A applications directly with DOL instead of filing simultaneously with both the SWA and DOL.

• Housing inspections – Increase the amount of time states have to conduct required housing inspections in response to delays often caused by SWAs overwhelmed by employer requests for pre-certification housing inspections. This reform creates consistency between the housing inspection process under H-2A and the housing inspection process under the Migrant and Seasonal Workers Protection Act, which protects U.S. farm workers.

• Wage Rate – Revise the methodology for determining the Adverse Effect Wage Rate to more accurately measure market-based wages by occupation

To view the entire proposed rule visit http://www.doleta.gov/pdf/DOL_H2A_NPRM_final_020508.pdf
The public has 45 days to comment on the proposed rule before a final rule is issued. Mutual plans to be actively involved in the process and file comments.
Founded in 1948 and currently representing nearly 8,000 grower members, Florida Citrus Mutual is the state’s largest citrus growers’ organization. For more information, please visit www.flcitrusmutual.com.

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