Final Rule to Modernize H-2A Program Released by Labor Agency

The U.S. Department of Labor has released a final rule intended to update the seasonal agricultural guest worker visa program by streamlining and simplifying the foreign labor certification process.

The regulation is the second of a pair of final rules to overhaul the wage methodology and certification process for H-2A workers. The agency in November released a final rule to change how DOL calculates adverse-effect wage rates for temporary visa workers in the H-2A program.

Specifically, the rule will mandate electronic filing of job orders and applications, and will provide additional flexibilities in the program, such as the option to ...