Useful Links
Useful Links on Covid-19
Washington State Tree Fruit Association has produce a hand washing demo in English and Spanish. View the video today.
December 2019 Updates:
Ruling in Everglades Harvesting and Hauling Lawsuit
The Department of Labor
The Department of Labor’s (DOL) mission is to foster, promote, and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers, and retirees of the United States; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for profitable employment; and assure work-related benefits and rights. DOL is the primary federal regulatory and enforcement agency for labor issues, including the Migrant and Seasonal Workers Protection Act (MSPA).
The Department of Labor published the Agriculture Compliance Assistance Toolkit for agricultural employers in March of 2021.
Key groups and offices inside DOL with direct importance to agricultural employers include:
- The Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC)
- OFLC’s resources on the H-2A agricultural worker visa program.
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
- Although generally not directly engaged with agricultural field work, OSHA has direct nexus in processing and other non-field activities, an ongoing educational program on heat illness, AND direct connection with any/all work-related death and/or illness including mandatory reporting:
- Mandatory work-related death/illness reporting
- Heat related illness prevention education (English)
- Heat related illness prevention education (Spanish)
- Wage and Hour Division (WHD)
The Department of Homeland Security
The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) duties are wide-ranging, but their goal is clear: a safer, more secure America, which is resilient against terrorism and other potential threats. Missions include preventing terrorism and enhancing security; managing our borders; administering immigration laws; securing cyberspace; and ensuring disaster resilience.
For agricultural employers the most significant involvement of DHS is in immigration and border security issues including a major role in employment eligibility verification (I-9 and E-Verify.)
Key groups, offices, and resources related to DHS with direct importance to agricultural employers include:
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
- Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
- USCIS I-9 Information
- E-Verify
- Office of the Citizenship and Immigrations Services Ombudsman
The U.S. Department of Agriculture
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides leadership on food, agriculture, natural resources, rural development, nutrition, and related issues based on public policy, the best available science and effective management.
The Department of State
The Department of State controls admission for temporary work visas. The only legal temporary worker program for agriculture is H-2A, and for some agriculture related (non-fieldwork) jobs H-2B.
The Small Business Administration
The Small Business Administration (SBA) is dedicated to the support of small businesses across the nation and acts as a repository of information on employment and business law and regulation that impacts small business, as well as an internal watch-dog/advocate within the federal government to assure that the unique needs and circumstances of small businesses are not overlooked in lawmaking, regulation, and enforcement.
Key groups and offices related to (SBA) with direct importance to agricultural employers include:
The Department of Health and Human Services
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) regulates and enforces various public health and services and is the primary regulatory agency for implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2012.
Key groups, offices, and resources related to HHS with direct importance to agricultural employers include:
- The Affordable Care Act (2012)
- HHS Health Care Website
- The Center for Disease Control and Prevention
- The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is the leading national health institute focused on health protection and health equity. Collaborating to create the expertise, information, and tools that people and communities need to protect their health – through health promotion, prevention of disease, injury and disability, and preparedness for new health threats.
The Environmental Protection Agency
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates and enforces environmental laws including pesticide registration and use, water and air quality, and other issues of direct impact to agriculture.
Internal Revenue Service
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is responsible for collecting taxes and the interpretation and enforcement of the Internal Revenue Code.
State Agencies
- State and Local Government Websites Online
- National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA)
- National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA)
- Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO)
- National Association of [State] Insurance Commissioners (NAIC)
- National Council on [Workers] Compensation Insurance (NCCI)
- Association of Public & Land-Grant Universities
Foreign Governments
Mexican Government Recruiting Program – Servicio Nacional de Empleo
NCAE is posting this as an option as a courtesy to the Mexican Government. Your H-2A Agent, Association or Attorney will ultimately select the recruiter they are most comfortable working with.