Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Happy Human Rights Day from the Bush Administration

Final Regulations Changes to H-2A Guestworker Program Are Out
The long anticipated regulation changes to slash wages and reduce worker protections under the H-2A agricultural guestworker program are out. The changes, proposed by the Department of Labor (DOL) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) were revealed on the DOL website late Monday evening but have not yet been officially published in the Federal Register. The changes are horrible. At a time when the jobless rate is at a 15 year high, they reduce obligations for growers to effectively recruit U.S. workers before applying to bring in guestworkers for these jobs. They lower the wage rates for all farmworkers by changing the program's wage formula and, in an industry known for labor abuses, they eliminate or reduce government oversight.
Isn't it lovely that the same year we elect our first African American President we also tell the people who harvest our food "Fuck you". * Found thanks to Nezua over at The Unapologetic Mexican. Technorati Tags: , ,

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