Ho w to E mplo y L e g a l T e mpo ra ry L a b o r Pa rtic ipa - - PDF document

4/ 12/ 2017 1

Ho w to E mplo y L e g a l T e mpo ra ry L a b o r Pa rtic ipa tio n in the H-2A T e mpo ra ry Ag ric ultura l Pro g ra m

1-877-422-3392 www.fe wa g lo b a l.o rg

4/ 12/ 2017 2

Ja rro d Sha rp is the Ge ne ra l Co unse l a t F E

• WA. He is

re spo nsible fo r a dvising the Asso c ia tio n a nd its sta ff in le g al ma tte rs a s we ll a s sta ying c urre nt

• n le g isla tive a nd re g ula to ry

issue s tha t c o uld impa c t F E WA me mb e rs. He ha s b e e n invo lve d in pre se nting va rio us e duc a tio na l pro g ra ms inc luding we b ina rs, c o nfe re nc e spe a king e ng a g e me nts, writte n a rtic le s, e tc . Ja rro d g ra dua te d c um la ude with a Do c to r o f Jurisprude nc e fro m the Unive rsity o f Ho usto n L a w Ce nte r in 2010. He g ra dua te d summa c um la ude with a Ba c he lo r o f Busine ss Administra tio n fro m the Unive rsity

• f Ho usto n in 2005. He ha s b e e n

a me mb e r o f nume ro us ho no r so c ie tie s and vo lunte e r

• rg a niza tio ns.

Arnulfo Hino jo sa is the Vic e Pre side nt fo r the F e de ra tio n o f E mplo ye rs a nd Wo rke rs o f Ame ric a . Mr. Hino jo sa ha s b e e n a ppro ve d b y the US De pa rtme nt

• f Justic e Bo a rd o f I

mmig ra tio n Appe als (BI A) a s a n Ac c re dite d Re pre se nta tive fo r F E WA F

• unda tio n. T

his de sig na tio n ta ke s into c o nside ra tio n his e xpe rie nc e a nd kno wle dg e o f immig ra tio n la w a nd pro c e dure , a nd it a utho rize s him to pra c tic e b e fo re the De pa rtme nt o f Ho me la nd Se c urity.

• Mr. Hino jo sa is b iling ua l

(E ng lish/ Spa nish) a nd his Hispa nic he rita g e a nd c ulture g ive s him a uniq ue insig ht to the Hispa nic wo rk fo rc e in to da y's Ame ric a .

1-877-422-3392 www.fe wa g lo b a l.o rg

4/ 12/ 2017 3

Disc la ime r

T

he ma te ria ls in this pre se nta tio n a re g e ne ra l in na ture a nd a re fo r info rma tio na l purpo se s o nly; the y a re no t o ffe re d fo r a nd do no t c o nstitute spe c ific le g a l a dvic e . No thing pro vide d within this pre se nta tio n sho uld b e use d a s a sub stitute fo r the a dvic e o f yo ur

• wn inde pe nde nt c o unse l.

4/ 12/ 2017 4

Wha t is the H-2A Pro g ra m?

 T

he H-2A Pro g ra m is a utho rize d unde r the I mmig ra tio n a nd Na tio na lity Ac t (I NA) a nd a llo ws a U.S. e mplo ye r to hire fo re ig n wo rke rs

• n a te mpo ra ry b a sis to pe rfo rm a g ric ultura l

wo rk whe n the re a re no t suffic ie nt U.S. wo rke rs a va ila b le . 1

E mplo ye r Guide to Partic ipatio n in the H-2A T e mpo rary Ag ric ultural Pro g ram

4/ 12/ 2017 5

Ba sic Crite ria fo r Pa rtic ipa tio n

 T he U.S. e mplo ye r must ha ve full-time wo rk tha t ne e ds to b e pe rfo rme d o n a te mpo ra ry se a so na l b a sis. 1

 E

mploye r must ha ve a physic a l pla c e o f b usine ss in the U.S.,

ha ve a F E I N, a nd a b ility to hire , pa y, fire , supe rvise , o r

• the rwise c o ntro l the wo rk o f the wo rke rs e mplo ye d; 1

 T he wo rk must c o nsist o f agr

ic ultur al la b o r o r se rvic e s, suc h a s

pla nting , ra ising , c ultiva ting , ha rve sting , o r pro duc tio n o f a ny a g ric ultura l o r ho rtic ultura l c o mmo dity; 1  T he wo rk must b e full-time (a t le a st 35 ho urs/ we e k); a nd 1  T he ne e d fo r the wo rk must b e se asonal or

te mpor ar y in

na ture a nd tie d to a c e rta in time o f the ye a r b y re c urring e ve nts o r pa tte rns, suc h a s a n a nnua l g ro wing c yc le , no rma lly la sting 10 mo nths o r le ss. 1  Qua lific a tio ns do no t sub sta ntia lly de via te fro m the nor

mal and ac c e pte d qualific ations re q uire d b y no n-H2A e mplo ye rs

in the sa me o r c o mpa ra b le o c c upa tio ns a nd c ro ps. 4

E mplo ye r Guide to Partic ipatio n in the H-2A T e mpo rary Ag ric ultural Pro g ram

T A F

• rm 9142-Appe ndix A

4/ 12/ 2017 6

Wha t Ag e nc ie s a re I nvo lve d?

 State Wor

kfor c e Age nc y (SWA) a ssists with the

pro c e ssing o f the a g ric ultura l jo b o rde r a nd with U.S. wo rke r re c ruitme nt. 1  T

he U.S. De par tme nt of L abor (USDOL ) must issue a

c e rtific a tio n indic a ting tha t q ua lifie d U.S. wo rke rs a re no t a va ila b le fo r the jo b a nd the e mplo yme nt o f te mpo ra ry fo re ig n wo rke rs will no t a dve rse ly a ffe c t the wa g e s a nd wo rking c o nditio ns o f U.S. wo rke rs simila rly e mplo ye d. 1  T he U.S. Citize nship and Immigr

ation Se r vic e s (USCIS)

must the n a ppro ve a visa pe titio n. 1  T he U.S. De par

tme nt of State (DOS) thro ug h U.S.

Co nsula te s a b ro a d sc re e ns individua l wo rke rs a nd issue s visa s fo r a pplic a b le wo rke rs.  T he USDOL Wage and Hour

Division (WHD) e nfo rc e s

the te rms a nd c o nditio ns o f the wo rke r pro te c tio ns unde r the H-2A pro g ra m. 1

E mplo ye r Guide to Partic ipatio n in the H-2A T e mpo rary Ag ric ultural Pro g ram

4/ 12/ 2017 7

Ba sic Pro c e ss E le me nts

(no t in c hro no lo g ic a l o rde r)

 Ag ric ultura l jo b o rde r re q ue st must b e file d with the SWA no mo re tha n 75 c a le nda r da ys a nd no le ss tha n 60 c a le nda r da ys b e fo re the da te o f ne e d. 1  E mplo ye r a pplic a tio n pa c ka g e s sub mitte d to USDOL (a t le a st 45 c a le nda r da ys b e fo re da te o f ne e d 1), USCI S, a nd individua l wo rke rs pro c e ssing a t c o nsula r lo c a tio ns will ha ve the ir o wn a pplic a tio ns to sub mit.  Re c ruitme nt o f U.S. Wo rke rs: Jo b o rde r, ne wspa pe r a dve rtise me nts, a nd re po rting to the USDOL

• n the

re sults o f re c ruitme nt. 1

E mplo ye r Guide to Partic ipatio n in the H-2A T e mpo rary Ag ric ultural Pro g ram

4/ 12/ 2017 8

Ba sic Pro c e ss E le me nts Co ntinue d

4/ 12/ 2017 9

Co nc e pts, Ob lig a tio ns, Assura nc e s, & E nfo rc e me nt

4/ 12/ 2017 10

Co rre spo nding E mplo yme nt

 T

he De pa rtme nt o f L a b o r’ s re g ula tio ns g o ve rning the H-2A Pro g ra m a lso a pply to the e mplo yme nt o f U.S. wo rke rs b y a n e mplo ye r o f H-2A wo rke rs in a ny wo rk inc lude d in the a ppro ve d jo b o rde r o r in a ny a g ric ultura l wo rk pe rfo rme d b y the H- 2A wo rke rs during the pe rio d o f the jo b

• rde r. 2

a c t She e t # 26: Se c tio n H-2A o f the I mmig ra tio n a nd Na tio na lity Ac t (I NA)

4/ 12/ 2017 11

Offe r o f E mplo yme nt to U.S. Wo rke rs

 Pr

e fe r e ntial T r e atme nt Pr

• hibite d: Must o ffe r U.S. wo rke rs

te rms a nd wo rking c o nditio ns whic h a re no t le ss fa vo ra b le tha n tho se o ffe re d to H-2A wo rke rs 3

 Ma y no t impo se a ny re stric tio ns o r o b lig a tio ns o n U.S.

wo rke rs tha t will no t a lso b e impo se d o n H-2A wo rke rs 3

 Positive Re c r

uitme nt: I

nde pe nde ntly c o nduc t DOL

• spe c ifie d re c ruitme nt a c tivitie s a nd c o o pe ra te with the

SWA b y a c c e pting re fe rra ls o f e lig ib le U.S. wo rke rs 3

 50% R

ule: Pro vide e mplo yme nt to a ny q ua lifie d, e lig ib le

U.S. wo rke r who a pplie s fo r the jo b o ppo rtunity until 50%

• f the pe rio d o f the wo rk c o ntra c t ha s e la pse d 3

nfo rc e me nt: H-2A Pre se ntatio n, Ma rc h 2010

4/ 12/ 2017 12

L a yo ff a nd Displa c e me nt

• f U.S. Wo rke rs

 No layoffs within 60 da ys o f the da te o f ne e d, e xc e pt fo r

la wful, jo b -re la te d re a so ns 3

 I

f suc h a la yo ff ha s o c c urre d, the e mplo ye r must first o ffe r the jo b o ppo rtunity to tho se la id-o ff U.S. wo rke rs b e fo re hiring a ny H-2A wo rke rs. 3 E mplo ye rs ma y o nly re je c t e lig ib le U.S. wo rke rs fo r la wful, jo b -re la te d re a so ns. 4

 Applie s to a ny simila rly e mplo ye d U.S. wo rke r in the

• c c upa tio n tha t is the sub je c t o f the Applic a tio n in the

a re a o f inte nde d e mplo yme nt 3

 During the c o ntra c t pe rio d, pe rmissib le o nly if a ll H-2A

wo rke rs a re la id o ff b e fo re a ny U.S. wo rke r in c o rre spo nding e mplo yme nt 3

nfo rc e me nt: H-2A Pre se ntatio n, Ma rc h 2010

T A F

• rm 9142-Appe ndix A

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Pa yme nt o f Re q uire d Wa g e s

 Hig he st o f the fo llo wing a pplic a b le ra te s in

e ffe c t at the time wor k is pe r for me d: 3

 Adve rse E

ffe c t Wa g e Ra te (AE WR)

 Pre va iling wa g e  Ag re e d-upo n c o lle c tive b a rg a ining ra te  F

e de ra l o r Sta te minimum wa g e

 Wa g e s ma y b e c a lc ula te d b a se d o n a n ho urly

ra te o f pa y o r o n a pie c e ra te b a sis (as

spe c ifie d in the e mplo ye r’s applic atio n). 3 Pe r

pa y pe rio d, pie c e ra te s must a ve ra g e no le ss tha n the hig he st re q uire d ho urly wa g e ra te . 2

nfo rc e me nt: H-2A Pre se ntatio n, Ma rc h 2010

a c t She e t # 26: Se c tio n H-2A o f the I mmig ra tio n a nd Na tio na lity Ac t (I NA)

4/ 12/ 2017 14

¾ Gua ra nte e

 Gua ra nte e to o ffe r the wo rke r e mplo yme nt fo r a to ta l

numb e r o f ho urs e q ua l to a t le a st ¾ o f the wo rkda ys in the c o ntra c t pe rio d 3

 Be g ins o n the first wo rkda y a fte r the wo rke r a rrive s a t the

pla c e o f e mplo yme nt (o r the c o ntra c tua l first da te o f ne e d, whic he ve r is la te r) a nd e nds o n the da te the c o ntra c t e xpire s 3

 E

a c h wo rkda y must c o nsist o f a full numb e r o f ho urs o f wo rk time a s spe c ifie d in the jo b o rde r 3

 F

a ilure to me e t this pro visio n wo uld re q uire the e mplo ye r to supple me nt the wo rke r’ s pa y to me e t the ¾ g ua ra nte e 3

 Do e s no t a pply to H-2A wo rke rs displa c e d due to re fe rra ls

• f U.S. wo rke rs a fte r the e mplo ye r’ s da te o f ne e d 3

 E

mploye r s must maintain ac c ur ate r e c or ds of hour s offe r e d and hour s ac tually wor ke d 3

nfo rc e me nt: H-2A Pre se ntatio n, Ma rc h 2010

4/ 12/ 2017 15

¾ Gua ra nte e E xa mple

 I

f a c o ntra c t is fo r a 10-we e k pe rio d, during whic h a no rma l wo rkwe e k is spe c ifie d a s 6 da ys a we e k, 8 ho urs pe r da y, the wo rke r wo uld ne e d to b e g ua ra nte e d e mplo yme nt fo r a t le a st 360 ho urs (e .g ., 10 we e ks x 48 ho urs/ we e k = 480 ho urs x 75% = 360). 2

a c t She e t # 26: Se c tio n H-2A o f the I mmig ra tio n a nd Na tio na lity Ac t (I NA)

4/ 12/ 2017 16

T ra nspo rta tio n

 I

nb o und: Pro vide o rpa y fo r tra nspo rta tio n a nd da ily me a ls to the pla c e o f e mplo yme nt o r re imb urse wo rke rs o nc e 50% o f the wo rk c o ntra c t pe rio d ha s e la pse d 3

No te : F

L SA re q uire me nt fo r F e de ra l Minimum Wa g e a nd re imb urse me nt in first wo rk we e k whe re wa g e s fa ll b e lo w F L SA minimum wa g e 3 2

 Outb o und: Pro vide o rpa y fo r re turn tra nspo rta tio n

a nd da ily me a ls upo n c o mple tio n o f the wo rk c o ntra c t pe rio d 3

 Da ily: Pro vide to / fro m wo rksite a nd e mplo ye r-

pro vide d ho using a t no c o st 2

Must c o mply with a ll a pplic a b le la ws a nd

re g ula tio ns, b e pro pe rly insure d, a nd b e

• pe ra te d b y lic e nse d drive rs 3

nfo rc e me nt: H-2A Pre se ntatio n, Ma rc h 2010

a c t She e t # 26: Se c tio n H-2A o f the I mmig ra tio n a nd Na tio na lity Ac t (I NA)

4/ 12/ 2017 17

Ho using

 Pro vide d a t no c o st to H-2A wo rke rs a nd tho se wo rke rs in c o rre spo nding e mplo yme nt who a re no t re a so na b ly a b le to re turn to the ir re side nc e within the sa me da y 3  I nspe c te d a nd a ppro ve d b y SWA prio r to o c c upa nc y 3  Ma inta ine d during o c c upa nc y to me e t the a ppro pria te OSHA o r E T A sta nda rds 3  F a ilure to pro vide c o mplia nt ho using ma y re sult in re vo c a tio n o f a n e xisting la b o r c e rtific a tio n 3 Re ntal/ Public Ac c o mmo datio ns  Must me e t lo c a l sta nda rds 3  Ho using -re la te d c ha rg e s must b e pa id dire c tly b y the e mplo ye r to the ho using ’ s ma na g e me nt 3  I f c e rtifie d ho using b e c o me s una va ila b le , sub stitute ho using must still b e in c o mplia nc e with the a pplic a b le ho using sta nda rds 3

nfo rc e me nt: H-2A Pre se ntatio n, Ma rc h 2010

4/ 12/ 2017 18

Me a ls

 Pro vide thre e me a ls pe r da y to e a c h wo rke r

a t no mo re tha n a DOL

• spe c ifie d c o st 3

OR

 F

urnish fre e a nd c o nve nie nt c o o king a nd kitc he n fa c ilitie s whe re wo rke rs c a n pre pa re the ir o wn me a ls 3

nfo rc e me nt: H-2A Pre se ntatio n, Ma rc h 2010

4/ 12/ 2017 19

Othe r Co ntra c tua l Ob lig a tio ns

Disc lo sure

 Pro vide a c o py o f the wo rk c o ntra c t to e a c h

wo rke r 3

 No la te r tha n the time a t whic h the H-2A wo rke r

a pplie s fo r the visa 3

 No la te r tha n o n the first da y o f wo rk fo r wo rke rs

in c o rre spo nding e mplo yme nt 3

 Must b e in a la ng ua g e unde rsto o d b y the

wo rke r 3

nfo rc e me nt: H-2A Pre se ntatio n, Ma rc h 2010

4/ 12/ 2017 20

Othe r Co ntra c tua l Ob lig a tio ns

De duc tio ns

 Spe c ify in the wo rk c o ntra c t a ll de duc tio ns

whic h a re no t re q uire d b y la w whic h will b e ma de (undisc lo se d=impe rmissib le ) 3

 T

he a mo unt o f a ny de duc tio n must b e re a so na b le (no t inc lude pro fit to e mplo ye r, e tc .) 3

 Ce rta in de duc tio ns a re spe c ific a lly pro hib ite d:

E

mplo ye r’ s a tto rne y fe e s, a pplic a tio n fe e s, a nd re c ruitme nt c o sts, to o ls, supplie s, a nd e q uipme nt re q uire d, ho using , da ily tra nspo rta tio n to / fro m fie lds a nd e mplo ye r-pro vide d ho using 3

nfo rc e me nt: H-2A Pre se ntatio n, Ma rc h 2010

4/ 12/ 2017 21

Othe r Co ntra c tua l Ob lig a tio ns

No tific atio n

 No tify DOL

(a nd DHS in the c a se o f a n H-2A wo rke r) within two (2) wo rking da ys re g a rding vo lunta ry a b a ndo nme nt o f e mplo yme nt o r te rmina tio n fo r c a use 3

 Ab a ndo nme nt: F

a ilure to re po rt fo r wo rk fo r five (5) c o nse c utive wo rking da ys witho ut the c o nse nt o f the e mplo ye r 3

 E

mplo ye rs who pro vide time ly no tic e a re no t

• b lig a te d to me e t the ¾ g ua ra nte e o r pro vide re turn

tra nspo rta tio n fo r suc h wo rke rs 3

 E

mplo ye r must info rm H-2A wo rke rs o f the re q uire me nt tha t the y le a ve the U.S. a t the e nd o f the c e rtific a tio n pe rio d o r se pa ra tio n fro m the e mplo ye r (whic he ve r is e a rlie r) 4

nfo rc e me nt: H-2A Pre se ntatio n, Ma rc h 2010

T A F

• rm 9142-Appe ndix A

4/ 12/ 2017 22

Othe r Co ntra c tua l Ob lig a tio ns

No tic e o f Wo rke r Rights

 Po ste r ma y b e o b ta ine d fro m the DOL

3

 Must b e po ste d in E

ng lish a nd in a no the r la ng ua g e , a s ne c e ssa ry, a nd po ste d in a lo c a tio n whe re e mplo ye e s c a n re a dily se e it 3

Misc e llane o us  Pro vide sta te wo rke rs’ c o mpe nsa tio n insura nc e o r

its e q uiva le nt a t no c o st to the wo rke r 3

 F

urnish a n ho urs a nd e a rning s sta te me nt to e a c h wo rke r e a c h pa yda y (whic h must b e a t le a st twic e mo nthly) 3

 Pro vide a ll to o ls, supplie s, a nd e q uipme nt re q uire d

to pe rfo rm the a ssig ne d dutie s a t no c o st to the wo rke r 3

nfo rc e me nt: H-2A Pre se ntatio n, Ma rc h 2010

4/ 12/ 2017 23

Othe r Ob lig a tio ns

• E

mplo ye r a nd its a g e nts ha ve no t so ug ht o r re c e ive d pa yme nt fro m the H-2A wo rke r fo r a ny a c tivity re la te d to o b ta ining la b o r c e rtific a tio n 4

• E

mplo ye r will c o ntra c tua lly fo rb id a ny fo re ig n la b o r c o ntra c to r/ re c ruite r e ng a g e d in inte rna tio na l re c ruitme nt o f H-2A wo rke rs to se e k pa yme nts fro m e mplo ye e s. 4

• E

mplo ye r ha s no t a nd will no t intimida te , thre a te n, re stra in, c o e rc e , b la c klist, o r in a ny ma nne r disc rimina te a g a inst (a nd will no t c a use a ny o the r pe rso n to do so ) a pe rso n who ha s with just c a use file d a c o mpla int, institute d a pro c e e ding , te stifie d, c o nsulte d with a n a tto rne y, e tc .. 4

T A F

• rm 9142-Appe ndix A

4/ 12/ 2017 24

Do c ume nt Re te ntio n

 All Re c o rds a nd do c ume nts suppo rting the

H-2A a pplic a tio n must b e re ta ine d fo r a pe rio d o f 3 ye a rs fro m the da te the USDOL g ra nte d o r de nie d c e rtific a tio n. 1

E mplo ye r Guide to Partic ipatio n in the H-2A T e mpo rary Ag ric ultural Pro g ram

4/ 12/ 2017 25

H-2A WHD E nfo rc e me nt

Autho rity

Co nduc t inve stig a tio ns, a nd whe n a ppro pria te : 3

 I

mpo se pe na ltie s

 De b a r fro m future c e rtific a tio n  Re c o mme nd re vo c a tio n o f e xisting

c e rtific a tio n

 Se e k injunc tive re lie f a nd spe c ific

pe rfo rma nc e o f c o ntra c tua l o b lig a tio ns

nfo rc e me nt: H-2A Pre se ntatio n, Ma rc h 2010

4/ 12/ 2017 26

Cita tio ns

• 1. Offic e o f F
• re ig n L

a b o r Ce rtific a tio n, E mplo yme nt a nd T ra ining Administra tio n, U.S. De pa rtme nt o f L a b o r, E mplo ye r Guide to Pa rtic ipa tio n in the H-2A T e mpo ra ry Ag ric ultura l Pro g ra m (2012), https:/ / www.fo re ig nla b o rc e rt.do le ta .g o v/ pdf/ H- 2A_E mplo ye r_Ha ndb o o k.pdf

• 2. Wa g e a nd Ho ur Divisio n, U.S. De pa rtme nt o f L

a b o r, F a c t She e t # 26: Se c tio n H-2A o f the I mmig ra tio n a nd Na tio na lity Ac t(I NA) (2010), https:/ / www.do l.g o v/ whd/ re g s/ c o mplia nc e / whdfs26.pdf

• 3. Wa g e a nd Ho ur Divisio n, U.S. De pa rtme nt o f L

a b o r, Ag ric ultura l E nfo rc e me nt: H-2A, https:/ / www.fo re ig nla b o rc e rt.do le ta .g o v/ pdf/ WHD_2010_H2A_F ina l_Rule _Pub lic _R

• llo ut.ppt (la st visite d April 7, 2017).
• 4. Offic e o f F
• re ig n L

a b o r Ce rtific a tio n, E mplo yme nt a nd T ra ining Administra tio n, U.S. De pa rtme nt o f L a b o r, H-2A Applic a tio n fo r T e mpo ra ry E mplo yme nt Ce rtific a tio n: F

• rm E

T A-9142A-Appe ndix A, https:/ / www.fo re ig nla b o rc e rt.do le ta .g o v/ pdf/ E T A_F

• rm_9142A_Appe ndix_A.pdf

(la st visite d April 7, 2017).

4/ 12/ 2017 27

Que stio ns

Ja rro d Sha rp, Ge ne ra l Co unse l 979-245-7577 e xt. 100 jsha rp@ fe wa g lo b a l.o rg Arnulfo Hino jo sa , Vic e Pre side nt 979-245-7577 e xt. 101 a hino jo sa @ fe wa g lo b a l.o rg 1-877-422-3392 www.fe wa g lo b a l.o rg