81_FR_94669 81 FR 94422 - Labor Certification Process for the Temporary Employment of Aliens in Agriculture in the United States: 2017 Adverse Effect Wage Rates

81 FR 94422 - Labor Certification Process for the Temporary Employment of Aliens in Agriculture in the United States: 2017 Adverse Effect Wage Rates

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employment and Training Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 247 (December 23, 2016)

Page Range94422-94422
FR Document2016-30928

The Employment and Training Administration (ETA) of the Department of Labor (Department) is issuing this notice to announce the 2017 Adverse Effect Wage Rates (AEWRs) for the employment of temporary or seasonal nonimmigrant foreign workers (H-2A workers) to perform agricultural labor or services. AEWRs are the minimum wage rates the Department has determined must be offered and paid by employers to H-2A workers and workers in corresponding employment for a particular occupation and area so that the wages of similarly employed U.S. workers will not be adversely affected. In this notice, the Department announces the annual update of the AEWRs.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 247 (Friday, December 23, 2016) 
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 247 (Friday, December 23, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 94422]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-30928]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Labor Certification Process for the Temporary Employment of 
Aliens in Agriculture in the United States: 2017 Adverse Effect Wage 
Rates

AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration, Department of Labor.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Employment and Training Administration (ETA) of the 
Department of Labor (Department) is issuing this notice to announce the 
2017 Adverse Effect Wage Rates (AEWRs) for the employment of temporary 
or seasonal nonimmigrant foreign workers (H-2A workers) to perform 
agricultural labor or services.
    AEWRs are the minimum wage rates the Department has determined must 
be offered and paid by employers to H-2A workers and workers in 
corresponding employment for a particular occupation and area so that 
the wages of similarly employed U.S. workers will not be adversely 
affected. In this notice, the Department announces the annual update of 
the AEWRs.

DATES: Effective Date: This notice is effective December 23, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William W. Thompson, II, Acting 
Administrator, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training 
Administration, Office of Foreign Labor Certification, 200 Constitution 
Avenue NW., Room PPII-12-200, Washington, DC 20210. Telephone: 202-513-
7350 (this is not a toll-free number).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As a condition precedent to receiving an H-
2A visa, employers must first obtain a labor certification from the 
Department of Labor. The labor certification provides that: (1) There 
are not sufficient U.S. workers who are able, willing, and qualified 
and who will be available at the time and place needed to perform the 
labor or services involved in the petition; and (2) the employment of 
the foreign worker(s) in such labor or services will not adversely 
affect the wages and working conditions of workers in the U.S. 
similarly employed. 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(a), 1184(c)(1), and 
1188(a); 8 CFR 214.2(h)(5); 20 CFR 655.100.

Adverse Effect Wage Rates for 2017

    The Department's H-2A regulations at 20 CFR 655.120(l) provide that 
employers must pay their H-2A workers and workers in corresponding 
employment at least the highest of: (i) The AEWR; (ii) the prevailing 
hourly wage rate; (iii) the prevailing piece rate; (iv) the agreed-upon 
collective bargaining wage rate, if applicable; or (v) the Federal or 
State minimum wage rate, in effect at the time the work is performed.
    Except as otherwise provided in 20 CFR part 655, subpart B, the 
region-wide AEWR for all agricultural employment (except those 
occupations characterized by other than a reasonably regular workday or 
workweek as described in 20 CFR 655.102) for which temporary H-2A 
certification is being sought is equal to the annual weighted average 
hourly wage rate for field and livestock workers (combined) in the 
State or region as published annually by the United States Department 
of Agriculture (USDA). 20 CFR 655.120(c) requires that the 
Administrator of the Office of Foreign Labor Certification publish the 
USDA field and livestock worker (combined) wage data as AEWRs in a 
Federal Register notice. Accordingly, the 2017 AEWRs to be paid for 
agricultural work performed by H-2A and U.S. workers on or after the 
effective date of this notice are set forth in the table below:

                  Table--2017 Adverse Effect Wage Rates
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          State                             2017 AEWRs
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alabama.................................................          $10.62
Arizona.................................................           10.95
Arkansas................................................           10.38
California..............................................           12.57
Colorado................................................           11.00
Connecticut.............................................           12.38
Delaware................................................           12.19
Florida.................................................           11.12
Georgia.................................................           10.62
Hawaii..................................................           13.14
Idaho...................................................           11.66
Illinois................................................           13.01
Indiana.................................................           13.01
Iowa....................................................           13.12
Kansas..................................................           13.79
Kentucky................................................           10.92
Louisiana...............................................           10.38
Maine...................................................           12.38
Maryland................................................           12.19
Massachusetts...........................................           12.38
Michigan................................................           12.75
Minnesota...............................................           12.75
Mississippi.............................................           10.38
Missouri................................................           13.12
Montana.................................................           11.66
Nebraska................................................           13.79
Nevada..................................................           11.00
New Hampshire...........................................           12.38
New Jersey..............................................           12.19
New Mexico..............................................           10.95
New York................................................           12.38
North Carolina..........................................           11.27
North Dakota............................................           13.79
Ohio....................................................           13.01
Oklahoma................................................           11.59
Oregon..................................................           13.38
Pennsylvania............................................           12.19
Rhode Island............................................           12.38
South Carolina..........................................           10.62
South Dakota............................................           13.79
Tennessee...............................................           10.92
Texas...................................................           11.59
Utah....................................................           11.00
Vermont.................................................           12.38
Virginia................................................           11.27
Washington..............................................           13.38
West Virginia...........................................           10.92
Wisconsin...............................................           12.75
Wyoming.................................................           11.66
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Pursuant to the H-2A regulations at 20 CFR 655.173, the Department 
will publish a separate Federal Register notice in early 2017 to 
announce (1) the allowable charges for 2017 that employers seeking H-2A 
workers may charge their workers for providing them three meals a day; 
and (2) the maximum travel subsistence reimbursement which a worker 
with receipts may claim in 2017.

    Signed in Washington, DC
Portia Wu,
Assistant Secretary, Employment and Training Administration.
[FR Doc. 2016-30928 Filed 12-22-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4510-FP-P

94422 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 247 / Friday, December 23, 2016 / Notices Signed in Washington, DC. and 1188(a); 8 CFR 214.2(h)(5); 20 CFR TABLE—2017 ADVERSE EFFECT WAGE Portia Wu, 655.100. RATES—Continued Assistant Secretary, Employment and Adverse Effect Wage Rates for 2017 Training Administration. State 2017 AEWRs [FR Doc. 2016–30923 Filed 12–22–16; 8:45 am] The Department’s H–2A regulations at BILLING CODE 4510–FP–P 20 CFR 655.120(l) provide that Nebraska .............................. 13.79 employers must pay their H–2A workers Nevada ................................. 11.00 and workers in corresponding New Hampshire .................... 12.38 New Jersey ........................... 12.19 DEPARTMENT OF LABOR employment at least the highest of: (i) New Mexico .......................... 10.95 The AEWR; (ii) the prevailing hourly New York .............................. 12.38 Employment and Training wage rate; (iii) the prevailing piece rate; North Carolina ...................... 11.27 Administration (iv) the agreed-upon collective North Dakota ........................ 13.79 bargaining wage rate, if applicable; or Ohio ...................................... 13.01 Labor Certification Process for the (v) the Federal or State minimum wage Oklahoma ............................. 11.59 Temporary Employment of Aliens in rate, in effect at the time the work is Oregon .................................. 13.38 Agriculture in the United States: 2017 performed. Pennsylvania ........................ 12.19 Adverse Effect Wage Rates Rhode Island ........................ 12.38 Except as otherwise provided in 20 South Carolina ...................... 10.62 CFR part 655, subpart B, the region- South Dakota ........................ 13.79 AGENCY: Employment and Training wide AEWR for all agricultural Tennessee ............................ 10.92 Administration, Department of Labor. employment (except those occupations Texas .................................... 11.59 ACTION: Notice. characterized by other than a reasonably Utah ...................................... 11.00 regular workday or workweek as Vermont ................................ 12.38 SUMMARY: The Employment and Virginia .................................. 11.27 described in 20 CFR 655.102) for which Training Administration (ETA) of the Washington ........................... 13.38 temporary H–2A certification is being Department of Labor (Department) is West Virginia ........................ 10.92 sought is equal to the annual weighted Wisconsin ............................. 12.75 issuing this notice to announce the 2017 average hourly wage rate for field and Wyoming ............................... 11.66 Adverse Effect Wage Rates (AEWRs) for livestock workers (combined) in the the employment of temporary or State or region as published annually by Pursuant to the H–2A regulations at seasonal nonimmigrant foreign workers the United States Department of 20 CFR 655.173, the Department will (H–2A workers) to perform agricultural Agriculture (USDA). 20 CFR 655.120(c) publish a separate Federal Register labor or services. requires that the Administrator of the notice in early 2017 to announce (1) the AEWRs are the minimum wage rates Office of Foreign Labor Certification allowable charges for 2017 that the Department has determined must be publish the USDA field and livestock employers seeking H–2A workers may offered and paid by employers to H–2A worker (combined) wage data as AEWRs charge their workers for providing them workers and workers in corresponding in a Federal Register notice. three meals a day; and (2) the maximum employment for a particular occupation Accordingly, the 2017 AEWRs to be travel subsistence reimbursement which and area so that the wages of similarly paid for agricultural work performed by a worker with receipts may claim in employed U.S. workers will not be H–2A and U.S. workers on or after the 2017. adversely affected. In this notice, the effective date of this notice are set forth Department announces the annual Signed in Washington, DC in the table below: Portia Wu, update of the AEWRs. DATES: Effective Date: This notice is Assistant Secretary, Employment and TABLE—2017 ADVERSE EFFECT WAGE Training Administration. effective December 23, 2016. RATES [FR Doc. 2016–30928 Filed 12–22–16; 8:45 am] FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: BILLING CODE 4510–FP–P William W. Thompson, II, Acting State 2017 AEWRs Administrator, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Alabama ................................ $10.62 Arizona .................................. 10.95 DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Administration, Office of Foreign Labor Arkansas ............................... 10.38 Certification, 200 Constitution Avenue California ............................... 12.57 Employment and Training NW., Room PPII–12–200, Washington, Colorado ............................... 11.00 Administration DC 20210. Telephone: 202–513–7350 Connecticut ........................... 12.38 (this is not a toll-free number). Delaware ............................... 12.19 Agency Information Collection SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As a Florida ................................... 11.12 Activities; Comment Request; condition precedent to receiving an H– Georgia ................................. 10.62 Workforce Innovation Fund Grants Hawaii ................................... 13.14 Reporting and Recordkeeping 2A visa, employers must first obtain a Idaho ..................................... 11.66 labor certification from the Department Requirements Illinois .................................... 13.01 of Labor. The labor certification Indiana .................................. 13.01 ACTION: Notice. provides that: (1) There are not Iowa ...................................... 13.12 sufficient U.S. workers who are able, Kansas .................................. 13.79 SUMMARY: The Department of Labor willing, and qualified and who will be Kentucky ............................... 10.92 (DOL), Employment and Training available at the time and place needed Louisiana .............................. 10.38 Administration (ETA) is soliciting mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES to perform the labor or services involved Maine .................................... 12.38 comments concerning a proposed Maryland ............................... 12.19 extension for the authority to conduct in the petition; and (2) the employment Massachusetts ...................... 12.38 of the foreign worker(s) in such labor or Michigan ............................... 12.75 the information collection request (ICR) services will not adversely affect the Minnesota ............................. 12.75 titled, ‘‘Workforce Innovation Fund wages and working conditions of Mississippi ............................ 10.38 Grants Reporting and Recordkeeping workers in the U.S. similarly employed. Missouri ................................ 13.12 Requirements.’’ This comment request 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(a), 1184(c)(1), Montana ................................ 11.66 is part of continuing Departmental VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:33 Dec 22, 2016 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00111 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\23DEN1.SGM 23DEN1


Document Created: 2016-12-23 12:29:38
Document Modified: 2016-12-23 12:29:38
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice.
DatesEffective Date: This notice is effective December 23, 2016.
ContactWilliam W. Thompson, II, Acting Administrator, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, Office of Foreign Labor Certification, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Room PPII-12-200, Washington, DC 20210. Telephone: 202-513- 7350 (this is not a toll-free number).
FR Citation81 FR 94422 
2025 Federal Register | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy
USC | CFR | eCFR