Temporary Agricultural Employment of H-2A Aliens in the United States; Ratification of Department's Actions
Published Date: 1/13/2025
Rule
Summary
The Department of Labor officially confirms the 2010 rules for hiring temporary farm workers from other countries under the H-2A visa program. This ratification means employers and workers can keep relying on these rules without changes, ensuring steady farm work and fair treatment. The confirmation was signed on January 7, 2025, so everyone knows these rules are here to stay.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
2010 H-2A Rule Confirmed and Stable
The Department of Labor ratified the 2010 Final Rule for the H-2A temporary agricultural worker program on January 7, 2025, so employers and H-2A workers can keep relying on the rules that were published on February 12, 2010 and went into effect March 15, 2010. This means the same application, certification, and enforcement rules remain in place as affirmed by agency leaders.
Worker Protections and Program Integrity Preserved
The ratification affirms that the Final Rule adopted in 2010 includes improvements to application processing, worker protections, and program integrity measures, and those protections remain in force as of January 7, 2025. If you are employed under H-2A, those strengthened protections and program integrity rules continue to apply.
Small-Farm Economic Impact Finding Affirmed
The Department ratified the 2010 Final Rule and agreed with the original finding that the Final Rule "does not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities" (see Final Rule, 75 FR at 6953). Small agricultural employers can rely on that determination as of the January 7, 2025 ratification.
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