Labor Caucus Opposes Trump Administration’s Farmworker Wage Cuts

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Jamie Raskin (MD-08), and Labor Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Steven Horsford (NV-04), Debbie Dingell (MI-06), Mark Pocan (WI-02), and Donald Norcross (NJ-01) with Education and Workforce Committee Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), Workforce Protections Subcommittee Ranking Member Ilhan Omar (MN-05), and Immigration, Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee Ranking Member Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) led over 20 House Democrats in a letter opposing the Department of Labor (DOL)’s Interim Final Rule (IFR) regarding Adverse Effect Wage Rate Methodology for the Temporary Employment of H-2A Nonimmigrants in Non-Range Occupations in the United States. 

“We urge the Department to abandon this IFR that will lower wages for both H-2A workers and American workers,” wrote the lawmakers. “Farmworkers perform a physically demanding job in difficult conditions and keep our country fed. Despite this, they are already one of the lowest paid workers in the U.S., making 40% less than comparable nonagricultural workers.” 

On October 2, the Department of Labor released its interim final rule to update the methodology used to calculate the Adverse Economic Wage Rate for H-2A agricultural guest workers. The rule will result in lower wages for both H-2A workers and American agricultural workers. 

“Furthermore, we should not be subsidizing the cost of bringing in foreign workers with limited labor protections while also driving down wages for American workers,” continued the lawmakers. “While it is important to ensure that America has a robust farm workforce, that should be achieved by incentivizing workers through higher wages, rather than lowering wages and making it easier for employers to exploit workers.”

“Accordingly, we urge you to swiftly rescind DOL’s IFR on Adverse Effect Wage Rate Methodology for the Temporary Employment of H-2A Nonimmigrants in Non-Range Occupations in the United States, which will drive down wages for both H-2A and American workers,” concluded the lawmakers.

According to the Economic Policy Institute, new estimates show farmworkers stand to lose $4.4 to $5.4 billion annually under DOL’s updated Adverse Effect Wage Rate, including $3 billion in lost wages for American farmworkers.

A full copy of the letter can be found here. The letter was signed by 29 House Democrats.