Feds may suspend changes to H-2A program

WASHINGTON, D.C.
March 14, 2009 9:57pm

The U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration proposes suspending for nine months of a final rule implementing changes to the H-2A program, which allows U.S. agricultural businesses to employ foreign workers in temporary or seasonal agricultural jobs.

"Because many stakeholders have raised concerns about the H-2A regulations, this proposed suspension is the prudent and responsible action to take," says Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis. "Suspending the rule would allow the department to review and reconsider the regulation, while minimizing disruption to state workforce agencies, employers and workers."

"These regulations represented one of the most significant steps backwards for farm workers in the past several decades,” says United Farm Workers President Arturo Rodriguez.

The changes to the H-2A temporary foreign agricultural worker program took effect on Jan. 17. The DOL said it plans to reverse those changes and reinstate the policies that were in effect until that time. It may take several weeks for the changes to take effect.