To keep food costs low we know we rely on foreign work force during harvesting down south, but also up north and at Dairy farms. Expanding H2A workforce and reviewing the current program so not only is the H2A worker getting a benefit, but also that it’s cost effective for the employer.
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Katie, No offense, but I believe this is our problem now. We need to stop the flow of foreign workers across the board and enforce policies once they are here. Try going to Mexico to work. It’s strictly enforced. I am not saying we should not have foreign workers, I am saying let’s not let them in, and ten years later they are still here, working without the right to, and suffer no consequences.
This is no longer about keeping costs low. Those days are over. Food costs have risen despite our reliance on foreign workers, and someone is making a killing because they are traditionally paid less.
I completely agree, they need to suffer harsher consequences when they don’t follow the rules. I also know it’s expensive for farmers to hire HSA workers and every dollar counts in the ag world.
Our problem is Illegal workers.
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Actually the government sets the price that we have to pay H2A workers and it has been increasing rapidly. Currently it is anywhere from 15-20 dollars per hour depending on the state plus about 6 dollars an hour in additional costs related to visas, transportation, housing, meals and other compliance costs. This is not cheap labor anymore and it is directly impacting food prices.
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