DOL Tweaks Meal Costs for H-2A Farm Workers This Year
Published Date: 3/24/2025
Notice
Summary
If you hire H-2A or H-2B workers, here’s the latest on what you can charge for meals and travel costs. The Department of Labor updated the max amounts employers can charge for three meals a day and set new rules for travel and lodging reimbursements. These changes help keep things fair and start applying right away for the upcoming year.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
Updated Meal Charge Limits for H‑2A
If you hire H‑2A workers (other than for herding or production of livestock on the range), the Department of Labor updated the maximum amounts employers may charge workers when the employer provides three meals per day. This is an annual update that applies to employers and to the workers they hire.
Travel Subsistence Reimbursement Floors and Caps
The notice announces the minimum and maximum amounts that employers must reimburse for travel‑related subsistence under the H‑2A and H‑2B programs. If you hire or are an H‑2A or H‑2B worker, these minimums and maximums set how much employers must pay back for travel subsistence.
Reminder: Employer Lodging and Travel Duties
The Department of Labor reminded employers about their obligations to cover overnight lodging costs that are part of required subsistence and reasonable travel costs to and from the worksite. If you hire H‑2A or H‑2B workers, employers should ensure lodging and related travel costs meet those obligations.
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