NASDA Backs Agricultural Labour Reform: Comprehensive Changes to the H-2A Programme on the Agenda

The ‘Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act’, introduced by Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson, Chair of the US House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture, aims to address long-standing labour shortages in the agricultural sector. Supported by more than 40 Members of Congress from both parties, the bill proposes comprehensive changes to the H-2A guest worker visa programme.

The bill aims to expand the H-2A programme to cover more agricultural sub-sectors and make it more accessible to employers. Plans include removing the current seasonal work requirement and expanding the definition of ‘temporary employment’ to cover positions lasting fewer than 350 days.

If the proposed changes are implemented, this will pave the way for sectors such as dairy farming, seafood processing, controlled-environment agriculture and similar year-round production sectors to benefit from the H-2A programme.

The bill also provides for the legal underpinning of the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) regulations recently implemented by the US Department of Labour regarding wage calculations, and aims to increase transparency in the administrative processes of the programme carried out by various public bodies.

The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) has announced its support for the proposed legislation. The association noted that labour reform for the agricultural sector has long been one of the most common requests from state departments of agriculture, and stated that the bill could facilitate producers’ access to a legal and stable workforce.

NASDA assessed that a modernised agricultural labour system would not only meet producers’ labour needs but also contribute to supporting food supply security and enhancing the competitiveness of US agricultural products in international markets.

Whilst the bill is expected to be considered during the upcoming legislative session of the US Congress, industry representatives have indicated that the legislation could represent a significant step towards resolving the agricultural sector’s chronic labour force issues.