[KR: I got the following post from Farmworker Justice, an organization that advocates for migrant and seasonal workers. Apparently, the administration published the new rule in the federal register this morning. The rule has generated opposition from several organizations and newspaper editorial boards.]
Guest post by Farmworker Justice
December 18, 2008
This morning, the Bush Administration finalized midnight changes to the H2A guestworker program that slash wages and worker protections for our nation’s farmworkers. These changes have been denounced by groups like the United Farm Workers, National Council La Raza and Farmworker Justice.
The new regulations will slash wage rates for both U.S. and foreign workers by:
- eliminating the “prevailing wage†salary requirements;
- reducing employers’ obligations to recruit U.S. workers for these jobs before hiring vulnerable guestworkers; and,
- cutting oversight of the program that could detect and curtail labor abuses.
(more…)