Labor Dept. Issues New Rules for Guest Workers (H-2B)

[Newsjock]

Source: New York Times

The Labor Department on Friday unveiled rules that reshape a program for foreign migrants in work other than agriculture, which officials said would strengthen protections for those workers and also spur recruitment of Americans for such jobs. It was the latest move in a protracted battle between employers and the Obama administration over the nation’s temporary guest workers.

The extensive rules — 575 pages long — make important changes across the program, which is known as H-2B. The changes were hailed by advocates for guest workers, who said they would make it more difficult for businesses to exploit vulnerable foreign migrants and hire them to undercut Americans.

But reflecting the divisions over the program, employers who use it regularly said the new rules, which will take effect April 23, would make the process too slow and cumbersome for their seasonal businesses and would ultimately lead to the loss of American jobs.

... Under the new rules, the Labor Department will create a nationwide electronic registry where employers must post all jobs they are seeking to fill with H-2B workers. Also, the recruitment period of Americans is expanded, requiring employers to hire any qualified local worker who applies up to three weeks before the start of an H-2B contract.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/11/us/rules-revised-for-h-2b-guest-worker-program.html

[Tx4obama]

1. Ha !!! That was fast! Remember the woman that asked Pres Obama about H-1B visas ...

in the: White House: Your Interview with the President - 2012
and she said that her husband couldn't find a job and wanted to know why companies were allowed to bring in foreign workers for jobs that Americans could fill - and President Obama told her to send him the husband's résumé because he wanted to check out what was going on ???

Video here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10179823
at the 5:45 minute mark.

[Lionessa]

2. Oh my, two things in one day. Bravo!

Very pleased to see this. I think the idea it might lead to the loss of American jobs as stated by "employers," is just their standard line to everything, it makes no logical sense.

[pampango]

3. EPI: We strongly support the new regulations and commend...the Obama Administration

for acting to protect the interests of unemployed U.S. workers and H-2B guest workers."

"The updated H-2B program will help put unemployed U.S. workers back to work by requiring employers to do more to recruit them before the department approves requests for foreign workers. The rules will also protect foreign H-2B workers from exploitation in the recruitment process by banning foreign labor recruiters from charging certain fees and requiring employers to pay visa and travel costs."

Nice to see the administration take action to make the program work better.