NATION:Today, in accordance with the examination of US laborers as studied by four federal agencies to include the Departments of Homeland Security (DHS), Labor (DOL), and State, as well as the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Biden-Harris administration has provided new information involving the H-2B Worker Protection Taskforce, 2023.
By Michelle Crawford-Sapenter
“For the first year of our administration, with former Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh, I worked with union leaders and partners across our administration to identify ways we could lower barriers to unionization. Last year, I presented President Biden with a list of more than 70 recommendations on how our administration could support… workers and expand the right to organize in the public and private sectors. “—
In the year 2021, the WPTF was reinstated by the Biden-Harris administration and was formulated to study laborers and labor unions for such purpose that information might be gathered to provide for the development of increased worker protection. The report , now available, provides information surrounding the decisions made involving non US citizens and is detailed in the H-2B final disclosure.
“The Department of Homeland Security is committed to maintaining strong economic growth and meeting the labor demand in the United States, while strengthening worker protections for U.S. and foreign workers,” –Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas
Following the finalization of the federal agency’s research, it was determined that noncitizen workers work alongside general US employees and, however, are often not afforded the level of equitable power to vocalize or otherwise state grievances. The matters at issue often involve inadequate wages and worker conditions. The federal agencies have established a policy contained in H-2B that ensures the rights of all workers.
Therefore, the decisions made in regard to noncitizen workers indicate that noncitizen workers may be hired under such conditions that their work is limited to nonagricultural labor and ensures that 3 major challenges are addressed. Today, after having held session during which workers were able to speak and describe their grievances, the WPT responded by providing the following for noncitizen workers:
(1) threats to H-2B program integrity; (2) H-2B workers’ fundamental vulnerabilities, including their limited ability to leave abusive employment without jeopardizing their immigration status; and (3) the illegal use of the program to avoid hiring U.S. workers.
For generations, Harris indicated, US workers in unions and others have fought for higher wages, accessing incomes that would enable them to buy homes, build a future and retire with dignity.
Harris stated that union workers have been the backbone of US society and “...for too long, the contributions of union workers have not been fully appreciated….Harris added, That’s why I’m proud to serve as the head of the White House Task Force on Worker Organizing and Empowerment.”
Harris stated that the Biden -Harris administration is building a nation where everyone, not just the wealthy and well connected, has an opportunity to thrive, In a few words, Harris commented, “That’s Bidenomics.!’
Today, the H-2B bill represents a light shining upon those who are components of the Biden-Harris administration’s White House Worker Protection Taskforce and Empowerment –they are the noncitizens who have entered the United States and require employment.
The WTF supplies noncitizen workers with a visa which enables them to apply for temporary employment and indicates that the noncitizen workers will be equipped to apply for work through the US Secretary of Labor.
Work provided to noncitizens workers will be contingent upon the following: (1) there are not sufficient U.S. workers who are capable of performing the temporary services or labor at the time of filing the petition for H-2B classification and at the place where the foreign worker is to perform the work; and (2) the employment of the foreign worker will not adversely affect the wages and working conditions of similarly employed U.S. workers. The Department of Labor will review and process all H-2B applications on a first in, first out basis.
Employers who seek the temporary labor of noncitizen employees must apply to the Temporary Employment Certification to the Chicago National Processing Center (NPC) and submit a request for unnamed foreign workers.The US federal government indicated that it is conducting rapid measures to ensure that will ensure the protection of workers and safeguard to H-2b program.
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