This article, USDA wants to end Farm Labor Survey, published by DTN Progressive Farmer, discusses potential changes to how wages are set for temporary, migrant labor with H2A (temporary worker) visas. And, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Labor Survey (FLS) which is critical to the determination of H2A visa holder wages may be discontinued. The OEWS (Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics) and Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) both from the U.S. Department of Labor and used in the determination of temporary worker wages may be altered.
The article states that there are approximately 350,000 H2A (temporary agriculatural workers) in the U.S. working on 22,000 farms for an average hourly wage of $14.83 – $19.80 depending on the state.
The National Council of Agricultural Employers (NCAE) is applauding this decision as it will probably bring down the legal wage rates for these workers.
Immigration Insight 