The U.S. Department of Labor is holding an online seminar April 18 to educate businesses and advocates on the proper employment of nonimmigrant workers with H-2B guest visas, attempting to prevent future violations of the program.
The H-2B visa program allows U.S. employers to bring foreign workers to the U.S. for non-agricultural or other work for a one-time occurrence, such labor needed on a seasonal, peak load or intermittent basis.
“Our team in the Midwest has made significant progress in holding violators accountable for violating the rights of thousands of workers in the H-2B program,” said Wage and Hour Division Regional Administrator Michael Lazzeri in a statement. “This ongoing initiative is designed to make sure employers meet specific requirements that protect the rights of workers – both U.S. workers and those with H-2B visas – to be paid their legal wages and benefits as the law requires, and that employers answer for their violations.”
Since 2018, the division has identified more than $4 million in back wages owed by employers to nearly 2,000 workers and assessed nearly $2.2 million in civil money penalties to resolve pay practice violations in Midwestern states.
The division has debarred 12 Midwest employers and contractors for H-2B visa program violations in the last five years.
According to a release, federal investigators find these businesses:
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