A new Labor Department rule announced on Friday will provide temporary farmworkers with increased legal protections against various forms of abuse, including employer retaliation, unsafe working conditions, and illegal recruitment practices. The rule, set to take effect on June 28, is designed to address the challenges faced by approximately 300,000 immigrants, primarily from Mexico, who annually take on seasonal jobs in U.S. farms.
The initiative specifically targets abuses experienced by workers under the H-2A program, aiming to uphold fair labor standards for all farmworkers. Labor Secretary Julie Su emphasized that the rule seeks to empower H-2A workers to advocate for themselves and report labor law violations.
