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NCAE files suit with DOL to stop significant H-2A rate increases

The National Council of Agricultural Employers has filed litigation against the U.S. Department of Labor to stop up to 20 percent adverse effective wage rate increases for 2019.

“These mandated costs are at levels farmers and ranchers simply can’t afford.”       

President Michael Marsh tells Brownfield each year wage rates for H-2A workers are set following USDA’s farm wage survey to make sure domestic workers aren’t adversely affected by importing guest workers. 

“Some of the increases were phenomenal, 23 percent year over year increase in some of the Rocky Mountain states.”      

Marsh says they want to see the U.S. Departments of Labor and Agriculture create a more accurate and market-based assessment of wages and ways to update them.

Wage rate increases are set to start January 9^th for 2019.

AUDIO: Brownfield interview with Michael Marsh