Tuesday, May 21, 2019

Facts You Should Know Before You Sign Up For An H2A Program

By Shirley Thompson


H-2A programs allow companies that specialize in agriculture to obtain reliable, adequate and legal workers for their farms. The foreign workers that apply for visas only get to work for a temporary basis and this means that farms can get assistance when they need it the most. Whether you are a potential employer or a worker in search of employment within the United States, it is crucial to have a good understanding of how the H2A program works.

There are numerous key benefits of getting an H-2A visa instead of trying to get into the country illegally. In any case, illegal immigrants cannot get legal employment because their legal status cannot be changed. If you decide to exit the country, you face the risk of being banned from returning for the next three to ten years. This means than entering the country illegally will only deprive you of dignified work opportunities.

The H-2A program offers a win-win deal for both employers in agricultural farms and foreign workers in need of employment. The employers provide temporary employment, coupled with numerous other benefits and the workers in question step in to cover for the seasonal shortage of domestic workers. For a farm to be able to legally recruit foreigners, it must first affirm that trying to find labor locally is impossible. This means that farms must first advertise locally.

Employers must continually cooperate with the State Workforce Agency. This is meant to ensure that jobs are first offered to qualified U. S. Citizens who are interested and unemployed. Whether you are the employer or foreign worker in search of employment, you also need to get well acquainted with the rules regarding wages.

It is essential for employers to make certain that employment through H-2A programs will not have a huge impact on the income of domestic workers. The foreigners that come to lend a hand are paid the AEWR (Adverse Effect Wage Rates). This is the prevailing wage rate for their state and the positions that they hold within the farm. In the majorities of states, the rate is about $13/hour.

The foreign workers should expect to be offered free housing. There are set standards that ought to be met in order to ascertain that the employees in question get to lead dignified lifestyles. Depending on how many workers your farm employs through the H-2A program, the housing you provide will be scrutinized by the Department of Labor or the Department of Health within your state.

Providing proper housing is crucial. Then again, employers need to provide meals or give access to a cooking facility where the employees can prepare meals for themselves. As per the general guidelines, employers should provide housing for free, cater for transportation expenses and give a work guarantee for at least 75% of the period that a foreign worker is contracted.

Even though H2A programs are beneficial, they are also fairly complex. Most farms find it better to get help from experts who understand how things work in detail. Seeking assistance from an ideal organization will ensure that you only start the process if you are a qualified beneficiary of the program. The professionals will offer help with both the paperwork and the applications involved.




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