published: Friday, December 05, 2008

US Department of Labor offers training requirements for farm labor
Special to the News-Sun

The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division will offer three seminars in Florida during December to assist farm labor contractors and agricultural employers in complying with section H-2A of the Immigration Reform and Control Act and the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act.

Special emphasis will be given to the 2008 State of Florida Migrant Housing Rules, which were instituted to prevent substandard migrant housing.

The seminars will be held in in Highlands County on Wednesday, Dec. 17 at the Bert J. Harris Agriculture Center, 4509 George Blvd; in Polk County on Monday, Dec. 15 at the Florida Citrus Building, Nora Mayo Hall, 500 3rd St. N.W., Winter Haven; and in DeSoto County on Tuesday, Dec. 16 at the Turner Center-Annex, Exhibition Hall, 2250 N.E. Roan St., Arcadia. Each session will begin at 5:30 p.m.

There is no costs. Contact Mike Rios at (813) 288-1400, ext. 28 for details.

Section H-2A of the Immigration Reform and Control Act authorizes the admission of temporary non-immigrant workers to perform agricultural labor or services of a temporary or seasonal nature. Employers participating in the H-A program are required to comply with specified labor standards relating to wages, transportation, housing and records. MSPA provides protection for migrant and seasonal agricultural workers and requires all farm labor contractors to register with the department's Wage and Hour Division.

Information regarding enforcement of H-2A, MSPA or any of the laws administered by the Wage and Hour Division is available by calling the Department of Labor's toll-free helpline at (866) 4-US-WAGE (487-9243), or visiting the Internet at www.wagehour.dol.gov.

http://www.newssun.com/business/1203-Farmlabor