|
|
"A comprehensive, collaborative elections resource."
|
Use of guestworker program drops
|
|---|
| Parent(s) |
Issue
|
| Contributor | Jason |
| Last Edited | Jason Feb 09, 2010 12:19am |
| Logged |
0
|
| Category | News |
| Author | Dan Wheat |
| News Date | Sunday, February 7, 2010 06:00:00 AM UTC0:0 |
| Description | Fewer foreign seasonal agricultural workers were hired in Washington state through the federal H-2A guestworker program in 2009.
Growers hired 1,549 H-2A workers, a 26 percent drop from 2008, according to the state Department of Employment Security. It reversed three years of increase.
State and industry officials believe the decline is mainly due to more workers available domestically because of high unemployment caused by the recession. They expect usage of H-2A workers to remain flat or drop more this year.
The Obama administration is expected to announce new H-2A regulations soon that will increase wages, fees and restrictions on employers using the program, which many already regard as slow and expensive, says Mike Gempler, executive director of the Washington Growers League in Yakima. Some growers are waiting for that before deciding if they will use the program this year, Gempler said. |
| Share |
|
|
2¢
|
|
| Article | Read Full Article |
|
| Date |
Category |
Headline |
Article |
Contributor |
|
|
