AEWR Updates- the industry has been reeling from updates to the H2A Program's Adverse Effect Wage Rate

(AEWR) through rate increases for 2023, and a change in wage calculation methodology through a final rule that the US Department of Labor posted on Feb. 28th.  That rule, along with increases in AEWR rates, are creating administrative hurdles and unreasonable costs that could be crippling for agriculture.
 
NWA is monitoring the situation alongside allied organizations, and the rule is meeting a number of challenges from industry groups and the legislature.  The National Council of Agricultural Employees (NCAE) is challenging the final rule from a legal standpoint, and Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) is among the congressional leaders in DC mounting a challenge via the Congressional Review Act (NWA is a member of NCAE).  The International Fresh Produce Association has also mounted a grassroots advocacy campaign to spur action at the congressional level (NWA is a member of IFPA). NWA has signed onto a letter supporting the House and Senate Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolutions to disapprove of the new AEWR regulation with a coalition of groups across agriculture via the Agricultural Workforce Coalition (AWC).  NWA has signed onto a letter supporting the House and Senate Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolutions to disapprove of the new AEWR regulation with a coalition of groups across agriculture via the Agricultural Workforce Coalition (AWC).  Some resources are linked below, but we will continue to monitor and remain active in this conversation. Read more and tell congress to overturn the rule.


    ◦    View the Department of Labor's FAQ's on the rule: <https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/ETA/oflc/pdfs/2023-AEWR-Final-Rule-FAQs_implementation_FINAL.pdf>
    ◦    Contact your congressman to tell them to overturn this rule (via IFPA's advocacy action tool): <https://ifpa.quorum.us/campaign/46089/>
    ◦    Read an industry perspective from BlueBook: https://www.producebluebook.com/2023/03/14/clarifying-the-new-aewr-rules/>
    ◦    Read an update on the bill from Senators Tillis (R-NC) and Ossoff (D-GA) to roll back AEWR rates to 2022 levels: <https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2023/3/tillis-ossoff-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-combat-rising-food-prices-for-american-families>