2015 H-2B Regulations Conference

Practical Employee Solutions, Amigos Labor Solutions,& Labor Consultants International

2015 H-2B Regulations Conference

PROGRAM COMPLIANCEOR

“STAYING OUT OF TROUBLE!”

June 2015

Overview and Seminar Goals

Present key highlights from the two recent USDOL H-2B regulations (thewage rule and the program rule);

Focus on changes from previous regulations;

Very important that employers and their representatives clearly understandtheir responsibilities under these new regulations;

Tips for complying with the new regulations; and

Helpful resources and successfully moving forward!

2PRACTICAL EMPLOYEE SOLUTIONS, AMIGOS LABOR SOLUTIONS, & LABOR CONSULTANTS INTERNATIONAL

Part 1: Wage Methodology for the Temporary Non-Agricultural Employment H-2B Program; Final Rule

Select Highlights

Regulation published April 29, 2015 and became effective the same day;

The final rule establishes that, in the absence of a wage set in a valid and controlling collective bargaining agreement, the prevailing wage will be the mean wage for the occupation in the pertinent geographic area derived from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics survey, unless the H–2B employer meets the conditions for requesting that the prevailing wage be based on an employer-provided survey.

The final rule does not permit use of the wage determinations issued under the Service Contract Act or the Davis Bacon Act as sources to set the prevailing wage in the H–2B temporary labor certification context. Therefore, no SCA or DBA wages except in certain circumstances where that wage is higher than the OES mean wage.

Note: When an H-2B employer with an SCA or DBA contract requests a prevailing wage from ETA’s National Prevailing Wage Center (NPWC), the NPWC will give the employer a prevailing wage based on the OES survey, with a reminder, as is currently issued, that the employer mustcomply with all applicable wage obligations. As is the case now, this obligation to comply with all applicable wage standards effectively results in the obligation to pay the highest legally applicable wage (i.e., the SCA, DBA, the OES mean, or state or local minimum wages) regardless of the prevailing wage determination issued by OFLC.

3PRACTICAL EMPLOYEE SOLUTIONS, AMIGOS LABOR SOLUTIONS, & LABOR CONSULTANTS INTERNATIONAL


Select Highlights cont’d

Employers must obtain a PWD prior to filing their H-2B job order with the State Workforce Agency (SWA) and the PWD must be valid on the date the order is posted (and received at the CNPC);

OFLC suggests requesting the PWD 60 days in advance;

Where multiple worksites within an area of intended employment, the prevailing wage will be the highest wage among ALL the worksites;

ETA Form 9165 and 9141 to be uploaded when requesting use of a survey; and

Will the current special procedures continue under this Interim Final Rule?

The 2015 IFR removes the regulatory provision authorizing the Department to create new special procedures. The Department will continue to accept H-2B applications for professional athletes, tree planting and related reforestation, and professional/outdoor entertainers under the existing specialprocedures. However, the Department is in the process of expeditiously reviewing special proceduresapplicable to the H-2B program. The public will be advised when the Department’s review is complete and any impact on current special procedures.

Note: OFLC specifically mentions they may request supporting documents so be prepared.

PRACTICAL EMPLOYEE SOLUTIONS, AMIGOS LABOR SOLUTIONS, & LABOR CONSULTANTS INTERNATIONAL 4


Select Highlights cont’d

5

Surveys: The H-2B wage rule permits submission of employer-provided surveys in very limitedcircumstances:

1. If the job opportunity is not covered by a CBA, or by a professional sports league’s rules or regulations, the NPWC will consider a survey in making a PWD only if the survey falls intoone of the following categories:

(i) The survey was independently conducted and issued by a state, including any state agency, state college, or state university;

(ii) The survey is submitted for a geographic area where the OES does not collect data, OR in a geographic area where the OES provides an arithmetic mean only at a national level (GeoLevel 4) for workers employed in the SOC;

(iii) (A) The job opportunity is not included within an occupational classification of the SOC system; OR

(B) The job opportunity is within an occupational classification of the SOC system designated as an ‘‘all other’’ classification.

PRACTICAL EMPLOYEE SOLUTIONS, AMIGOS LABOR SOLUTIONS, & LABOR CONSULTANTS INTERNATIONAL

Part 2: Temporary Non-Agricultural Employment of H-2B Aliens in the U.S.; IFR

Select Highlights

How is the new 2015 H-2B Interim Final Rule different from the 2008 H-2B regulations?

CHECKLIST

Duration of Temporary Need: Seasonal need, peakload need and intermittent need are limited to a validity period of 9 months or less. One-time occurrence remains available for a 3-year timeframe.

Definition of Full-Time Work: Full time work has been expanded from 30 hours to 35 hours per week.

Post Filing Model: Recruitment is conducted after the application is accepted for processing.

Application and Job Order Filing: Simultaneous: must occur no more than 90 and no less than 75calendar days before the date of need, unless there is an emergency.

Proof of Agency: Where an employer is represented by an agent, any application filed by an agent mustbe accompanied by an agreement demonstrating the agent’s authority to act on behalf of the employer in the labor certification process.

Extended Referral Period: Employer is required to accept referrals and hire qualified U.S. workers until 21 days before the employer’s date of need.



Select Highlights, cont’d

Determinations Based on the Nonavailability of U.S. Workers: New provision allowing an employer whose application was partially certified or denied to request a new determinationfrom OFLC based on the non-availability of U.S. workers.

Fees (Visa/Border Crossing): Employer must cover the cost of visa processing, border crossing, and other related fees within the first workweek. Passport or other charges primarily for the benefit of the workers need not be reimbursed.

Transportation to and from the Place of Employment: Employers must cover the cost of inbound transportation and subsistence for H-2B workers who complete 50 percent of the period of employment covered by the job order, and outbound transportation and subsistence for H-2B workers who work to the end of the job order or are dismissed early.

Three-fourths Guarantee: Employers must offer employment for three-fourths of each 12-week period for certifications extending 120 days or more; certifications covering fewer than 120 days will use a 6-week period. Employer must inform the CO if the certified work period will end early in order to modify this guarantee. See Handout WHD #78E.


Employer HighlightOFLC FAQ


Three-fourths Guarantee: A sample statement explaining the three-fourthsguarantee;

Depending on the length of your job opportunity, one of the following two statements in an employer’s advertisement is permitted:

1. For certified periods of employment lasting fewer than 120 days: The employer guarantees to offer work for hours equal to at least three-fourths of the workdays in each 6-week period of the total employment period.

OR

2. For certified periods of employment lasting 120 days or more: The employer guarantees to offer work for hours equal to at least three-fourths of the workdays in each 12-week period of the total employment period.



Tools and Equipment: Employer must provide all tools and equipment necessary to perform the job to workers free of charge.

Disclosure of Foreign Recruitment: Employer must provide a copy of all agreements with anyagent or recruiter who conducts or plans to conduct international recruitment for the employer, and a list of the identities and locations of persons hired by or working for the recruiter.

Revocation: The OFLC Administrator has new authority to revoke approved temporary non-agricultural labor certifications.

Enforcement: In this rule, the basis for determining violations continues to be either amisrepresentation of material fact or a substantial failure to comply with terms determined to be a violation if the evidence surrounding the violation establishes that it is willful.

To determine whether a violation is willful, DOL will consider whether the employer, attorney, or agent knows its statement is false or that its conduct is in violation, or shows reckless disregard for the truthfulness of its representation or for whether its conduct satisfies the required conditions. A substantial failure continues to be defined as willful as well as a significant deviation from the terms or conditions of a petition.




Agent and attorney liability: Agent and attorney signatories to Form 9142B will be liable for their independent willful violations of the H–2B program, as well as their participation in an employer’s violation.

This rule utilizes a CMP assessment scheme similar to the CMP assessment contained in the 2008rule: with additional and clarifying language specifying that WHD may find a separate violation for each failure to pay an individual worker properly or to honor the terms or conditions of the worker’s employment, as long as the violation meets the willfulness standard and/or substantial failure standard.

WHD has the authority, upon finding a violation that meets the regulation’s standards, to debar an employer, agent or attorney for not less than 1 year or more than 5 years.

An employer, agent, or attorney who is debarred by OFLC or WHD from the H–2B program will also be debarred from all other foreign labor certification programs administered by DOL for the time period in the final debarment decision.


Part 2: Temporary Non-Agricultural Employment of H-2B Aliens in the U.S.; IFR Application filing procedures (Sec. 655.14 – 655.20)

1. Application filing requirements. A registered employer seeking H–2B workers must file a completed(ETA Form 9142B and the appropriate appendices and valid PWD), a copy of the job order submitted concurrently to the SWA serving the area of intended employment, and copies of all contracts and agreements with any agent and/or recruiter, executed in connection with the job opportunities. Tip: Make this a checklist and an internal QC SOP

2. Timeliness. A completed application must be filed no more than 90 calendar days and no less than 75 calendar days before the employer’s date of need.

3. Original signature, etc. The application must bear the original signature of the employer (and that of the employer’s authorized attorney or agent if represented). If filed electronically, application must be signed as directed by the CO. An association or other organization of employers is not permitted to file master applications on behalf of its employer members. If a petition for H–2B non-immigrants filed by an employer in the seafood industry is granted, the employer may bring the workers into the U.S. at any time during the 120 day period beginning on the start date.

4. SWA Job Orders. The employer must submit the job order to the SWA serving the area of intended employment at the same time it submits the application and a copy of the job order to the CNPC. If the SWA determines that the job order does not comply with the regulations, the SWA must inform the CO at the CNPC of the deficiencies within 6 business days of receipt of the job order.



Application filing procedures (Sec. 655.14 – 655.20), cont’d

5. Amendments. The employer may amend the job order at any time before the CO makes a final determination.

6. Emergency situations. The CO may waive the time period(s) for filing an H–2B Registration and/or an application for employers that have good and substantial cause, provided that the CO has sufficient time to thoroughly test the domestic labor market on an expedited basis.

7. Job assurances and contents. Each job order must include the 18 contents items (See Handout). Anemployer also must agree to comply with the following assurances with respect to each job order:

a. Prohibition against preferential treatment; and b. Bona fide job requirements.

8. Job contractor filing requirements. Provided that a job contractor and any employer-client arejoint employers, a job contractor may submit an application on behalf of itself and thatemployer-client. A job contractor must have separate contracts with each different employer-client.



9. Assurances and obligations of H-2B employers. An employer employing H–2B workers and/or workers in corresponding employment has agreed that it will abide by the followingconditions with respect to its H–2B workers and any workers in corresponding employment:

(a) Rate of pay.(b) Wages free and clear.(c) Deductions. (d) Job opportunity is full-time. (e) Job qualifications and requirements. (f) Three-fourths guarantee. (g) Impossibility of fulfillment.(h) Frequency of pay. (i) Earnings statements. (j) Transportation and visa fees. (k) Employer-provided items. (l) Disclosure of job order. (m) Notice of worker rights. (n) No unfair treatment. (o) Comply with the prohibitions against employees paying fees.



Assurances and obligations of H-2B employers, cont’d

(p) Contracts with third parties to comply with prohibitions. (q) Prohibition against preferential treatment of foreign workers. (r) Non-discriminatory hiring practices.(s) Recruitment requirements. (t) Continuing requirement to hire U.S. workers. (u) No strike or lockout. (v) No recent or future layoffs. (w) Contact with former U.S. employees. (x) Area of intended employment and job opportunity. (y) Abandonment/termination of employment. (z) Compliance with applicable laws. (aa) Disclosure of foreign worker recruitment. (bb) Cooperation with investigators.

Question: These are enforced by WHD and there are 28 conditions. How will youinsure compliance?



Application Processing (Sec. 655.30 - 655.48)

1. Notice of deficiency. If the CO determines the application and/or job order is incomplete, contains errors or inaccuracies the CO will notify the employer within 7 business days from the receipt of the H-2B application. If applicable, the Notice of Deficiency (NOD) will include job order deficiencies identified by the SWA. a. The NOD will offer the employer an opportunity to submit a modified application or job

order within 10 business days from the date of the NOD. The Notice will state the modification needed to issue a Notice of Acceptance;

b. The NOD will offer an opportunity for administrative review if submitted in writing within10 business days from the date of the NOD.

2. Submission of a modified application or job order. The employer’s failure to comply with a NOD, including not responding in a timely manner or not providing all required documentation, will result in a denial of the application. I f the CO accepts the modification(s) to the application and/or job order, the CO will issue a NOA to the employer. The CO will send a copy to the SWA instructing it to make any necessary modifications to the not yet posted job order.

3. Notice of Acceptance. If the CO determines the application and job order are complete the CO will notify the employer in writing within 7 business days from the date the CO received the application and job order or modification. A copy of the NOA will be sent to the SWA serving the area of intended employment.



4. Notice content. Direct the employer to engage in recruitment of U.S. workers, including any additional recruitment ordered by the CO; state that such employer conducted recruitment is in addition to the job order being circulated by the SWA(s) and that the employer must conduct recruitment within 14 calendar days from the date the NOA is issued. Direct the SWA to place the job order into intra- and interstate clearance.

Advise the employer, as appropriate, that it must contact the appropriate designatedcommunity-based organization(s) with notice of the job opportunity; and require the employer to submit a report of its recruitment efforts.

5. Electronic job registry. Upon acceptance, the CO will place for public examination a copy of the job order posted by the SWA on the Department’s electronic job registry, including any amendments or required modifications approved by the CO.

6. Amendments to an application or job order. The employer may request to increase the number of workers noted in the H–2B Registration by no more than 20 percent (50 percent for employers requesting fewer than 10 workers). The employer may request minor changes to the total period of employment listed on its H-2B application and job order, for a period of up to 14 days, but the period of employment may not exceed a total of 9 months, except in the event of a onetime occurrence. Other amendment requests must be in writing and will not be effective until approved by the CO.


Part 2: Temporary Non-Agricultural Employment of H-2B Aliens in the U.S.; IFR Post-Acceptance Requirements (Sec. 655.40 – 655.48)

1. Employer-conducted recruitment. Employers must conduct recruitment of U.S. workers to ensure that there are not qualified U.S. workers available for the positions. U.S. applicants can be rejected only for lawful job-related reasons. Unless otherwise instructed by the CO, the employer must conduct the recruitment within 14 calendar days from the date the NOA is issued. All employer-conducted recruitment must be completed before the employer submits the recruitment report.

Employers must continue to accept referrals and applications of all U.S. applicants interested in the position until 21 days before the date of need.

Employers that wish to require interviews must conduct those interviews by phone or provide a procedure for the interviews to be conducted in the location where the worker is being recruited so that the worker incurs little or no cost.

The employer must consider all U.S. applicants for the job opportunity. The employer must accept and hire any applicants who are qualified and who will be available. The employer must prepare a recruitment report.



Post-Acceptance Requirements (Sec. 655.40 – 655.48) cont’d

2. Advertising requirements. All recruitment must contain terms and conditions of employment that are not less favorable than those offered to the H–2B workers and, at a minimum, must comply with the assurances applicable to job orders. All advertising must contain the following information: There are 14 requirements – see Handout for listing.

3. Newspaper advertisements. The employer must place an advertisement (which must be in a language other than English, where the CO determines appropriate) on 2 separate days, which may be consecutive, one of which must be a Sunday, in a newspaper of general circulation serving the area of intended employment and appropriate to the occupation and the workers likely to apply for the job opportunity.

4. Contact with former U.S. employees. The employer must contact (by mail or other effective means) its former U.S. workers, including those who have been laid off within 120 calendar days before the date of need, employed by the employer in the occupation at the place of employment during the previous year (except those who were dismissed for cause or who abandoned the worksite), disclose the terms of the job order, and solicit their return to the job.

5. Contact with bargaining representatives, posting and other requirements. If there is a bargaining representative for any of the employer’s employees in the occupation and area of intended employment, the employer must provide written notice of the job opportunity, by providing a copy of the application and the job order, and maintain documentation that it was sent to the bargaining representative(s).



Post-Acceptance Requirements (Sec. 655.40 – 655.48) cont’d

6. Additional employer-conducted recruitment. The employer may be instructed by the CO to conduct additional reasonable recruitment. Such recruitment may be required at the discretion of the CO when determined that there is a likelihood that U.S. workers who are qualified and will be available for the work, including but not limited to where the job opportunity is located in an Area of Substantial Unemployment (6.5% unemployment). The CO will describe the precise number and nature of the additional recruitment efforts.

7. Recruitment report. The employer must prepare, sign, and date a recruitment report. The recruitment report must be submitted by a date specified by the CO in the NOA and include the following: (See Handout).


Part 2: Temporary Non-Agricultural Employment of H-2B Aliens in the U.S.; IFR Labor Certification Determinations (Sec. 655.50 – 655.57)

1. If a temporary labor certification is granted, the CO will send the approved application and a Final Determination letter to the employer by means normally assuring next day delivery, including electronic mail, and a copy, if applicable, to the employer’s attorney or agent. If the application was electronically filed, the employer must sign the certified application as directed by the CO. The employer must retain a signed copy of the application and the original signed Appendix B of the application.

2. If a temporary labor certification is denied, the CO will send the Final Determination letter to the employer by means normally assuring next day delivery, including electronic mail, and a copy, if applicable, to the employer’s attorney or agent. The letter will note denial reason(s) and appeal process.

3. The CO may issue a partial certification, reducing either the period of need or the number ofH–2B workers or both for certification, based upon information the CO receives during the course of processing the application (union referrals, etc.).

4. A temporary labor certification is valid only for the period as approved on the application. The certification expires on the last day of authorized employment and is valid only for the number of H–2B positions, the area of intended employment, the job classification and specific services or labor to be performed, and the employer specified on the approved application.



Labor Certification Determinations (Sec. 655.50 – 655.57) cont’d

5. Record retention. All employers filing an application requesting H–2B workers are required to retain the documents and records proving compliance with 29 CFR part 503 (WHD enforcement) for 3 years from the date of certification or from the date of adjudication if the application is denied, or 3 years from the day the DOL receives the letter of withdrawal.

6. Request for determination based on nonavailability of U.S. workers. If a temporary laborcertification has been partially granted or denied, based on the CO’s determination that qualified U.S. workers are available, and, on or after 21 calendar days before the date of need, some or all of those qualified U.S. workers are, in fact no longer available, the employer may request a new temporary labor certification determination from the CO.

The CO will expeditiously, but in no case later than 72 hours after the time a complete request (including the required signed attestation statement) is received, make a determination on the request.



Post Certification Activities (Sec. 655.60 - 655.73)

1. Extensions. An employer may apply for extensions of the period of employment in the following circumstances. A request for extension must be related to weather conditions or other factors beyond the control of the employer (which may include unforeseeable changes in market conditions), and must be supported in writing, with documentation showing why the extension is needed and that the need could not have been reasonably foreseen by the employer.

2. Administrative review. Employers may request an administrative review before the BALCA of a determination by the CO.

3. Withdrawal of an Application for Temporary Employment Certification. Employers may withdraw an application after it has been accepted and before it is adjudicated. The employer must request such withdrawal in writing.

4. Integrity measures. The CO may conduct audits of certified applications. The CO has the sole discretion to choose the applications selected for audit. Failure to fully comply may result in assisted recruitment, revocation and/or debarment from the H-2B program and any other FLC program. Responses due within 30 calendar days from date of issuance of audit letter.

Potential referrals to DHS, WHD, and other enforcement agencies (OIG) and also DOJ Civil Rights Division.



Post Certification Activities (Sec. 655.60 - 655.73), cont’d

5. CO-ordered assisted recruitment. If, as a result of audit or otherwise, the CO determines that a violation has occurred that does not warrant debarment, the CO may require the employer to engage in assisted recruitment for a defined period of time for any future applications.

Assignment may be up to two years – CO will specify in writing and employer does have appeal rights. Regulation lists 9 additional recruitment steps from which the CO may select 1or more. Failure to materially comply may result in debarment – Note: includes attorney and agents.

6. Debarment. Future certifications may not be issued if determined certain violations haveoccurred: willful misrepresentation of a material fact; substantial failure to meet any of the terms and conditions in its H–2B registration, application for PWD, H-2B application, or H–2B petition, or willful misrepresentation of a material fact to the DOS during the visa application process.



Post Certification Activities (Sec. 655.60 - 655.73), cont’d

7. Debarment of an agent or attorney. OFLC may not issue future labor certifications to an employer represented by such agent or attorney, subject to the time limits set in the regulation (debarment may not be for less than 1 year or more than 5 years from the date of the agency final (decision).

Violations. Debarrable violations would include but would not be limited to one or more acts of commission or omission which involve:

(1) Failure to pay proper wages/benefits;(2) Failure to hire qualified U.S. workers;(3) Failure to properly recruit U.S. workers;(4) Improper layoff or displacement of corresponding workers;(5) Failure to comply with WHD imposed sanctions;(6) Failure to comply with NOD process;(7) Failure to comply with assisted recruitment process;(8) Impeding an investigation;(9) Employing H-2B worker(s) outside of certification conditions;(10) Violation of fee and language in contracts;(11) Violation of hiring U.S. workers;(12) Any act showing flagrant disregard for the law; (13) Fraud in any aspect of the application(s) process ; or(14) A material misrepresentation during application or registration.


Employer Resource: Wage and Hour Division Numbered Fact Sheets

Fact Sheet #78 (PDF, TEXT) — General Overview of the H-2B Program

Fact Sheet #78A (PDF, TEXT) — Corresponding Employment Under the H-2B Program

Fact Sheet #78B (PDF, TEXT) — Recruiting Requirements under the H-2B Program

Fact Sheet #78C (PDF, TEXT) — Wage Requirements under the H-2B Program

Fact Sheet #78D (PDF, TEXT) — Deductions and Prohibited Fees under the H-2B Program

Fact Sheet #78E (PDF, TEXT) — Job Hours and the Three-Fourths Guarantee

Fact Sheet #78F (PDF, TEXT) — Inbound and Outbound Transportation Expenses, and Visa and Other Related Fees under the H-2B Program

Fact Sheet #78G (PDF, TEXT) — Disclosure of the Job Order and Notice of Worker Rights under the H-2B Program

Fact Sheet #78H (PDF, TEXT) — Retaliation Prohibited under the H-2B Temporary Visa Program

Fact Sheet #78I (PDF, TEXT) — Record Retention Requirements under the H-2B Program


http://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/whdfs78.pdf

http://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/whdfs78.htm

http://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/whdfs78a.pdf

http://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/whdfs78a.htm

http://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/whdfs78b.pdf

http://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/whdfs78b.htm

http://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/whdfs78c.pdf

http://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/whdfs78c.htm

http://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/whdfs78d.pdf

http://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/whdfs78d.htm

http://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/whdfs78e.pdf

http://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/whdfs78e.htm

http://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/whdfs78f.pdf

http://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/whdfs78f.htm

http://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/whdfs78g.pdf

http://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/whdfs78g.htm

http://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/whdfs78h.pdf

http://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/whdfs78h.htm

http://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/whdfs78i.pdf

http://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/whdfs78i.htm

Regulations SummaryWages changes – OES mean and limited circumstances for submitting a survey.

Program model has changed – registration in advance (once operational and post filing recruitment) and 9 month need.

Full time work has been expanded from 30 hours to 35 hours per week.

Increased recruitment of U.S. workers – up until 21 days prior to start date of need.

Disclosure of foreign recruitment: Employer must provide a copy of all agreements with any agent or recruiter who conducts or plans to conduct international recruitment for the employer, and a list of the identities and locations of persons hired by or working for the recruiter.

Increased worker protections.

Increased sanctions and penalties and to attorney and agents .


Reforestation and Special Procedures - Highlights

Question 6 – Housing: Are employers required to provide or pay for housing for their H-2Bworkers and U.S. workers in corresponding employment?

DOL officials stated that the regulation is clear about the housing issue. If an employer is providing housing for H-2B workers, it should be extended to the same workers in corresponding employment. The regulation’s preamble makes it clear that employers of itinerant mobile crews must provide housing for the benefit of the employee. The employer cannot deduct fair value from employees’ wages, per the WHD deduction fact sheet. Examples of impacted industries include forestry and carnivals which are characterized by the mobile itinerant work which is often carried out in remote locations. SSBLC commented that these provisions would impose extra cost on these industries. DOL responded by saying that these sentiments can be explained in comments on the IFR by the June 29 deadline.

Wage and Hour Division Fact Sheet #78D: Deductions and prohibited fees under the H-2B Program. http://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/whdfs78d.htm This fact sheet provides general information concerning permissible deductions from the wages of workers employed under the H-2B program for H-2B applications submitted on or after April 29, 2015, as well as fees that employers are prohibited from charging. The joborder must specify all deductions not required by law which the employer will make from the worker’s pay. Deductions not disclosed are prohibited, and other deductions such as those described below and in Fact sheet #78F: Travel and Visa expenses, are prohibited regardless of whether they are disclosed.


http://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/whdfs78d.htm

http://www.dol.gov/WHD/regs/compliance/whdfs78f.htm

Reforestation and Special Procedures - Highlights

Disclosure. All transportation and subsistence costs that the employer will pay must be disclosed in the job order.

The employer must include in the job order any minimum productivity standard which the workers must meet in order to retain the job. Any such standard must be normal and usual for non-H-2B employers for the same occupation and geographic area.


Documents

2015 H-2B Regulations Conference