An Analysis of the H-2a Agricultural Guest Worker Program and Recommendations for Future Policy

An Analysis of the H-2a Agricultural Guest Worker Program and Recommendations for Future Policy
Author: Paulina M. Irigaray
Publisher: Universal-Publishers
Total Pages: 95
Release: 2011-03
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1599423820

The majority of the people who make up the United States' seasonal agricultural workforce are nonimmigrant Mexican citizens. Immigration policies such as the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) and the H-2A agricultural guest worker program were meant to encourage growers to employ legal labor workforces. A study of the laws and practices that eventually resulted in the H-2A program shows how and why the demographics are predominantly Mexican. In addition, such study is revealing as to why the US enacted the H-2A program-including definitional details of the program itself. However, does this program really work? This question has radically different answers. In theory, the program seems to be well designed; but, in practice, it does not function as intended because of its many shortcomings, loopholes, open-ended issues, and poor enforcement. I will analyze and demonstrate how these inadequacies perpetuate illegal immigration and exploitation of both legal and illegal seasonal agricultural farm workers. Lastly, I will offer a composite of recommendations for legislative reform of the H-2A program; as well as provide pertinent, resourceful questions for further research.

Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing Research at NIOSH

Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing Research at NIOSH
Author: Institute of Medicine
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 354
Release: 2008-06-10
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 0309177693

The agriculture, forestry, and fishing sectors are the cornerstone of industries that produce food, fiber, and biofuel. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) conducts research in order to improve worker safety and health in these sectors. This National Research Council book reviews the NIOSH Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing Program to evaluate the 1) relevance of its work to improvements in occupational safety and health and 2) the impact of research in reducing workplace illnesses and injuries. The assessment reveals that the program has made meaningful contributions to improving worker safety and health in these fields. To enhance the relevance and impact of its work and fulfill its mission, the NIOSH Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing Program should provide national leadership, coordination of research, and activities to transfer findings, technologies, and information into practice. The program will also benefit from establishing strategic goals and implementing a comprehensive surveillance system in order to better identify and track worker populations at risk.

Hired Farm Workers

Hired Farm Workers
Author: United States. Employment Standards Administration
Publisher:
Total Pages: 142
Release: 1971
Genre: Agricultural wages
ISBN:

H-2 A Agricultural Guestworker Program

H-2 A Agricultural Guestworker Program
Author: Carolyn S. Blocker
Publisher: DIANE Publishing
Total Pages: 152
Release: 1998-12
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 9780788174476

The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 created the "H-2A" program, under which employers may bring workers into this country on a temporary, nonimmigrant basis to perform seasonal agricultural work when domestic workers are unavailable. This report presents information on the likelihood of a widespread agricultural labor shortage and its impact on the need for nonimmigrant guestworker and the H-2A program's ability to meet the needs of agricultural employers while protecting domestic and foreign agricultural workers, both at present and if a significant number of nonimmigrant guestworkers is needed in the future.

Merchants of Labor

Merchants of Labor
Author: Philip L. Martin
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Total Pages: 231
Release: 2017
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 019880802X

Some 10 million migrant workers cross national borders each year. This book examines the businesses that move low-skilled workers, explaining recruitment, remuneration and retention, and showing how national borders increase recruitment costs. Tackling the often murky world of labor migration, it fills an important void in this fast-growing field.

Border Security, 2015

Border Security, 2015
Author: United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
Publisher:
Total Pages: 948
Release: 2016
Genre: Border security
ISBN: