Obama ends Bush-era farm policy

[impik]

The Obama administration on Thursday gave more job protections to temporary farm workers from both the United States and other countries, ending a Bush-era rule that critics said paid foreigners too cheaply to allow Americans to compete.

The new policy, which applies to the H-2A Guest Worker Program, also tightens pay rules, ensuring what the Labor Department said would be fair pay for all workers.

"This new rule will make it possible for all workers who are working hard on American soil to receive fair pay while at the same time expand opportunities for U.S. workers," Labor Secretary Hilda Solis said in a news release. "The actions that we have taken through this rulemaking also will enable us to detect and remedy different forms of worker violations."

The department says the rule also will make the hiring process more transparent by creating a “national electronic job registry where job orders will be posted,” and that the policy will protect workers from abusive fees related to visas and crossing borders.

http://www.politico.com/politico44/perm/0210/labor_aims_for_fair_pay_4e8e13d8-0e35-46a3-920c-5d87cbaa8712.html

[Aristus]

1. But...but...but...Obama ain't doin' nothin'!...

:+

[Recursion]

2. Great. Now where's that packer ban we were promised?

And, yes, that is great. That's not a sarcastic "great". But where's the packer ban?

[Arkana]

5. Wisconsin football fans would be upset.

And I believe we'd like to win Wisconsin again. :P

[Clio the Leo]

3. More good news. NT

[Schema Thing]

4. meh, no American would pick lettuce for 50 bucks an hour

John McCain told me so

[Arkana]

6. I absolutely would do this for 50 bucks an hour.

[TwilightGardener]

7. Me too. I have done similar manual labor for far less.

[Cha]

8. Wow, Fair Farming Practices!

You just know that's not going to go down very well in some circles.

[Hekate]

9. This news deserves a kick

:-) :kick:


Hekate