The U.S. Labor Department’s updated shutdown plan confirms that the Office of Foreign Labor Certification will resume processing H-2A temporary labor certification applications during the lapse in appropriations. The Western Growers Association sent a letter to the White House last week asking the Department to resume processing H-2A petitions during the government shutdown. As a direct response to the letter, the WGA met with senior administration officials to outline the chief concerns and highlight the challenges that this ongoing pause in H-2A processing is causing for producers. During the meeting, the Western Growers were asked to provide data on the estimated farm losses due to the challenges associated with the shutdown. Association membership provided information that was critical in the favorable decision made by the Trump administration. Page 18 of the Labor Department’s contingency plan said that OFLC “will process prevailing wage determinations and labor certification applications” next week.
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