The Wage and Hour Division (WHD) of the Department of Labor (DOL) recently determined that Flo-Ag LLC, an agricultural labor contracting company in Labelle, Florida, violated the rules of the H-2A program and the Agricultural Worker Protection Act (AWPA). As a result of the federal investigation, Flo-Ag cannot participate in the H-2A program for two years and must pay $45,212 in back wages to 113 employees and a civil penalty of $17,939.

La División de Salarios y Horas (WHD, por sus siglas en inglés) del Departamento del Trabajo (DOL, por sus siglas en inglés) recientemente determinó que Flo-Ag LLC, una empresa de contratación de mano de obra agrícola en Labelle, Florida, violó las reglas del programa H-2A y la Ley de Protección de Trabajadores Agrícolas Estacionales (AWPA).  Como resultado de la investigación federal, Flo-AG no podrá participar en el programa H-2A por dos años y pagará $45,212 en salarios atrasados a 113 empleados y una multa civil de $17,939.

On November 16, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its recommendations regarding work protocols in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Above all, they highlight that workers in essential industries should quarantine after a potential exposure to the virus, even if they have no symptoms and have not tested positive for COVID-19.

Recently a letter, supposedly from the International Revenue Services (IRS), has been in social networks like WhatsApp. The International Revenue Service, within the Treasury Department is the tax collection agency of the United States. In the last months, the IRS has issued economic impact payments that have supported the COVID-19 pandemic. The persons entitled to receive payment are those who have declared their taxes with a social security number in recent years, including workers with H-2B visas, according to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES).

Guest blog: Agricultural Workers Project (AWP)

Written by Thomas Godfrey

What is unemployment insurance?

Unemployment insurance gives temporary benefits to eligible workers that lost their work for reasons out of their control and who also meet other requirements for a new job.

Últimamente, ha estado circulando una carta supuestamente emitida por el Servicio de Impuestos Internos (IRS) en redes sociales como WhatsApp. El Servicio de Impuestos Internos, dentro del Departamento del Tesoro (IRS, por sus siglas en inglés), es la agencia de recaudación de impuestos de Estados Unidos. En los últimos meses, el IRS sí ha emitido Pagos de Impacto Económico como apoyo durante la pandemia del COVID-19.

Blog invitado: Proyecto Para Trabajadores Agrícolas (AWP por sus siglas en inglés)

Escrito por Thomas Godfrey

Guest blog: Servicio Nacional de Empleo (SNE)

Part II

The agencies that recruit workers for temporary jobs in other countries should confirm the seriousness of job offers, in order to safeguard the workers’ rights, certifying the truth of work conditions that employers offer related to: housing, social security and repatriation, among others.