Pre-employment costs associated with H-2A agricultural workers and the effects of the ‘60-minute rule’

Roka, Fritz; Simnitt, Skyler; Farnsworth, Derek

doi:10.22434/ifamr2016.0033

Cited by 8 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…Growers are increasingly relying on foreign guest workers admitted under the H-2A visa program [54,55]. However, many employers still hesitate to adopt the H-2A program due to the complexity of the process and the costs associated with H-2A hires [56][57][58][59][60]. In recent years, improved economy and employment opportunities in the central and south American countries have also enticed more workers to stay in their home countries [10], which, along with stricter enforcement of immigration policy in the United States, has led to a dwindling pool of migrant workers (many undocumented), causing severe labor shortages in U.S. agriculture.…”

Section: Factors Driving the Surge Of Imports From Mexicomentioning

confidence: 99%

The U.S. Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Industry: An Overview of Production and Trade

2022

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The fruit and vegetable industry is an important segment of the U.S. agriculture. The 2017 U.S. Agriculture Census shows that the industry had total sales of USD 48 billion from over 10 million acres of land. However, over the last two decades, production of major fruit and vegetable crops in the United States has been declining while imports have grown significantly. The rapidly growing imports have posed challenges to the sustainability of the U.S. domestic industry. This study provides a systematic industry review of fresh fruit and vegetable production and trade between the United States and Mexico, by far the largest source of U.S. imports, highlighting the structural shift in the market over the last two decades and the caveats for industry sustainability. The analysis shows that Florida, Georgia, and California are among the states that face the strongest competition from Mexico. Among the 10 crops reviewed, berry, tomato, pepper, and cucumber production has been affected the most. The study further discusses the factors driving the rapid growth of imports and shows the importance of innovation and policy reform to the sustainability of the U.S. fruit and vegetable industry.

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Section: Factors Driving the Surge Of Imports From Mexicomentioning

confidence: 99%

The U.S. Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Industry: An Overview of Production and Trade

2022

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“…The hourly wage of guest workers is almost $4 per person higher than domestic workers [74]. The pre-employment cost of the H2A immigrant workers is $2,000 per person, which includes transportation, visa sponsorship, advertisement, housing, and more [75]. Employers also need to guarantee 75% of the total hiring contract hour to the H2A farmworker.…”

Section: Foreign Labormentioning

confidence: 99%

Technology, Policy, and Market Adaptation Mechanisms for Sustainable Fresh Produce Industry: The Case of Tomato Production in Florida, USA

et al. 2021

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Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is an important vegetable crop in Florida, a state located in the south-eastern region of the United States. The state is the second largest producer of tomatoes in the country and contributes to almost 90% of the domestic winter tomato supplies. However, tomato farmers in Florida have come under increasing pressure due to climate changes, foreign imports, and rising production costs. The purpose of this paper is to analyze whether Florida tomato growers will continue to sustain their production given the seasonal and geographic production advantage, yet against various internal and external threats emerging throughout the fresh produce supply chain. We developed our study on a multi-disciplinary conceptual model of network (supply chain) relationship and primary and secondary data gathered from various stakeholders and the literature. We found that Florida farmers have done remarkably well by adapting to warming temperatures and changing consumer expectations about environmental sustainability and responsible labor practices. However, foreign competition, labor shortage, the rising costs of inputs, extreme weather events (hurricanes), and pests and diseases due to humid climate continue to affect the sustainability of the Florida tomato production. Our paper suggests various farm-, market-, and institution-level adaptation mechanisms for preventing the regional production advantage of the Florida tomato industry from eroding. Newer immigration laws are necessary for easing the labor situation. In order to have a level playing field with respect to the use of protected agriculture technology such as in Mexico and Canada, U.S. farmers in general and Florida farmers in particular need government support. Florida farmers need to diversify their fresh produce market strategies, finding new product streams. There is also a need for reforming the product certification landscape, which some growers find cumbersome and cost prohibitive. Growers may gain from being better able to convey to consumers the information regarding their effort put into environmental sustainability, workers welfare, and safe food.

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“…Beyond this base fee, there are often additional per worker fees depending on the services provided. In general, employers estimate that the total cost for hiring a worker through a labour broker as above 1000 USD per worker (Dutton, ), although some of this cost is for fees paid to the US government (see Roka et al., ). Some labour brokers offer customized labour packages whereby workers can be rotated through different worksites in order to spread the cost of workers amongst several employers (Wafla, ).…”

Section: The Business Of Labour Intermediariesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Migration Industry and the H‐2 Visa in the United States: Employers, Labour Intermediaries, and the State

Anderson

2019

International Migration

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Research on the migration industry has demonstrated the wide variety of roles played by private actors in international migration. However, so far little of this work has attempted to quantitatively measure the size and composition of these industries within particular migration schemes. Using the case of the H‐2 temporary working visa in the US, this article looks to better understand the prevalence, impact, and dynamics of the private labour intermediaries that offer services to US employers looking to hire workers from abroad. Using data from applications to hire foreign workers made to the US Department of Labor, this article finds that private intermediaries are extensively involved. Their broad inclusion raises questions of public and private authority in the visa programme, as the use of private intermediaries becomes necessary for employers to access and navigate the state institutions that oversee the programme.

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Pre-employment costs associated with H-2A agricultural workers and the effects of the ‘60-minute rule’

Cited by 8 publications

References 3 publications

The U.S. Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Industry: An Overview of Production and Trade

The U.S. Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Industry: An Overview of Production and Trade

Technology, Policy, and Market Adaptation Mechanisms for Sustainable Fresh Produce Industry: The Case of Tomato Production in Florida, USA

The Migration Industry and the H‐2 Visa in the United States: Employers, Labour Intermediaries, and the State

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