Recent U.S. Department of Labor investigations into violations of the H2A program in Mississippi have highlighted the necessity for accurate information on application forms when employing foreign workers brought in through the federal program.
The most recent violations include failure to pay for transportation of guest workers to the U.S., failure to state the nature and conditions of the work, and not paying adequate overtime rates.
Recent violations by seven ag-based companies in central Mississippi have led to approximately $70,000 of fines, according to the DOL website.
Mark Martens of Agri Placements International spoke to growers at the August American Cotton Producers meeting in Little Rock, Ark., highlighting the necessity for accurate records when working with the H2A program.
"The scrutiny around the program has increased dramatically," he said. "We're seeing that, especially in the last two years."
Agri Placements International is an agriculture-based firm that helps ag employers manage the necessary information and prepare forms for H2A applications. The company has been helping the ag industry prepare for foreign workers for 24 years and helps producers avoid the pitfalls of a burdensome system.
Finding agricultural workers can be a problem, so many in the ag industry have turned to the H2A program to supply their labor needs. Oversite of the program has led many employers to seek help in managing the program's hurdles.
The number of foreign...
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