University of Maine Cooperative Extension will host an online discussion on Federal Agricultural-Related Employment Laws on Feb. 21 at 3 p.m.
The presentation will be led by Brian Cleasby, Community Outreach and Resource Planning Specialist from the U.S. Department of Labor/Wage and Hour Division’s (WHD) Northern New England District Office.
WHD is responsible for administering a number of statutes that extend various protections to different types of agricultural workers. Navigating the interplay between the laws can be complex.
The session will focus on H-2A program requirements, including recent Final Rule changes (Final Rule: Temporary Agricultural Employment of H-2A Nonimmigrants, U.S. Department of Labor website) that went into effect Nov. 14, 2022, as well as the Fair Labor Standards Act’s (FLSA) wage and child labor protections.
Violations under these employment laws can be costly. The session will cover key program considerations to avoid common wage, disclosure, housing, transportation, and record keeping-related violations at worksites where H-2A workers are employed.
FLSA compliance considerations relating to the Act’s minimum wage, overtime, and youth employment provisions in agricultural-related settings will also be discussed.
A question-and-answer period will follow the presentation and links to WHD agricultural employment-related resources will be shared during the session.
This program is free, however, registration is required to receive the Zoom link information. Register at https://extension.umaine.edu/agriculture/discussion-federal-agricultural-related-employment-laws/.
For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact Jason Lilley, 207.781.6099; jason.lilley@maine.edu.
