Proposed H-2B Rule Changes Leave Landscapers Concerned

In an effort to ensure that U.S. workers are protected and given a fair shot at employment, while also ensuring that guest workers are treated fairly and employers with legitimate labor needs are granted better access to guest workers, the Department of Labor is proposing several drastic changes to the current H-2B guest worker program. These proposals are separate from rule changes announced this past fall – rules that could cost landscaping firms using the H-2B program several more thousand dollars a year in labor costs (Read Here). According to the Professional Landcare Network (PLANET), it, along with the H-2B Work Force Coalition, have hired an expert to do a complete analysis of the proposal so that they can submit comments by the May 17, 2011 due date. The proposal would include some of the following: Define temporary as less than nine months and eliminate the attestation process. Require a registration process to substantiate the need for temporary workers. In addition to the registration process, employers must file an Application for Temporary Employment Certification 75–90 days before the date of need for workers. Job orders must be listed with the State Workforce Agency and in the unionized industries with the appropriate labor union until three days before the H-2B workers are expected to start work. Jobs must also be posted on an electronic job registry. Jobs must be offered to qualified U.S. workers who apply for the position up to three days before the H-2B workers are scheduled to begin work. If applicable, the collective bargaining representative must also be notified of the job posting. Available jobs must also be posted at the employer’s place of business for up to 10 days. The certifying officer can also require additional recruitment measures. During the recruitment period, employers must contact former U.S. employees and labor unions of traditionally unionized industries and notify them of the job listing. Employers must advertise in a newspaper of general circulation in the area on two separate days, including a Sunday. The ad must include wages, information about the 3/4 guarantee, wages and transportation costs to be paid, and the fact that any needed tools or equipment will be provided. Employers must guarantee that workers will be paid for 3/4 of the hours discussed in the contract. Employers are required to pay H-2B workers inbound and outbound transportation costs, subsistence costs, visa, and other costs. This requirement also applies to U.S. workers who do not live near the place of employment. If lodging is provided for H-2B workers, the same lodging must be provided for U.S. workers who do not live near the workplace. The H-2B workers must be given full-time work, defined as more than 35 hours per week. Workers must be paid every two weeks or in accordance with the prevailing practice in the area. The job qualifications and requirements listed in the job offer must be bonafide and consistent with those required by employers that do not use H-2B workers for the same or comparable occupations. As part of increased program enforcement, the proposed rule would give DOL’s Wage and Hour Division independent debarment authority. You can use PLANET’s Legislative Action Center to send letters to the Hill:  CLICK HERE. It is clear that the Department of Labor is trying to discourage employers from using the H-2B program when U.S. workers are available to take these jobs. This says a lot about our near- and potentially longer-term employment outlook here in the U.S. If a landscape company could fill 20 seasonal jobs with 20 out-of-work Americans, fantastic. That's a big "if" though. ~ Gregg Wartgow, editor in chief