Labor Certification Process for the Temporary Employment of Aliens in Agriculture in the United States: Adverse Effect Wage Rate for Range Occupations Through 2016, 70840 [2015-28934]

Download as PDF 70840 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 220 / Monday, November 16, 2015 / Notices Consent Decree Library, U.S. DOJ— ENRD, P.O. Box 7611, Washington, DC 20044–7611. Please enclose a check or money order for $17.13 (25 cents per page reproduction cost) payable to the United States Treasury, if you are requesting the new Appendices to the Amendment, or $5.63 if you are only requesting the Amendment to the Consent Decree. Robert E. Maher Jr., Assistant Section Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section, Environment and Natural Resources Division. [FR Doc. 2015–28850 Filed 11–13–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4410–15–P DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Employment and Training Administration Labor Certification Process for the Temporary Employment of Aliens in Agriculture in the United States: Adverse Effect Wage Rate for Range Occupations Through 2016 Employment and Training Administration, Department of Labor. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: The Employment and Training Administration (ETA) of the Department of Labor (Department) is issuing this notice to announce the new Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) for the employment of temporary or seasonal nonimmigrant foreign workers (H–2A workers) to perform herding or production of livestock on the range. AEWRs are the minimum wage rates the Department has determined must be offered and paid by employers to H–2A workers and workers in corresponding employment so that the wages of similarly employed U.S. workers will not be adversely affected. 20 CFR 655.100(b). In this notice, the Department announces the new AEWR for workers engaged in the herding or production of livestock on the range, as required by the methodology established in the Temporary Agricultural Employment of H–2A Foreign Workers in the Herding or Production of Livestock on the Range in the United States, 80 FR 62958, 63067– 63068 (Oct. 16, 2015); 20 CFR 655.211. DATES: Effective Date: This notice is effective November 16, 2015. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William W. Thompson, II, Acting Administrator, Office of Foreign Labor Certification, U.S. Department of Labor, Room C–4312, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20210. tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:47 Nov 13, 2015 Jkt 238001 Telephone: 202–693–3010 (this is not a toll-free number). Individuals with hearing or speech impairments may access the telephone number above via TTY by calling the toll-free Federal Information Relay Service at 1–800– 877–8339. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 16, 2015, the Department published regulations in the Federal Register establishing standards and procedures for employers seeking to hire foreign temporary agricultural workers for occupations involving the herding and production of livestock on the range. Temporary Agricultural Employment of H–2A Foreign Workers in the Herding or Production of Livestock on the Range in the United States, 80 FR 62958 (Oct. 16, 2015) (H– 2A Herder Rule). Effective for all work performed on or after November 16, 2015, including for work certified under earlier special procedures, the H–2A Herder Rule requires employers to offer, advertise in recruitment and pay each worker employed under 20 CFR 655.200–655.235 a wage that is at least the highest of: (i) The monthly AEWR, (ii) the agreed-upon collective bargaining wage, or (iii) the applicable minimum wage imposed by Federal or State law or judicial action. 20 CFR 655.211(a)(1). Further, when the monthly AEWR is adjusted during a work contract, and is higher than both the agreed-upon collective bargaining wage and the applicable minimum wage imposed by Federal or State law or judicial action in effect at the time the work is performed, the employer must pay that adjusted monthly AEWR upon publication by the Department in the Federal Register. 20 CFR 655.211(a)(2). As provided in 20 CFR 655.211(c) of the H–2A Herder Rule, the methodology for establishing the monthly AEWR for range occupations in all states is based on the current Federal minimum wage ($7.25/hour) multiplied by 48 hours per week, and then multiplied by 4.333 weeks per month. In applying the transition wage rate methodology set forth under 20 CFR 655.211(d)(1), the Department is setting the initial national monthly AEWR at 80 percent of the full wage calculated using the H–2A Herder Rule methodology. Thus, the national monthly AEWR rate for all range occupations in the H–2A program is calculated at (7.25 × 48 × 4.333 × .80 = 1,206.31) or $1,206.31.1 1 Because less than two months remain in 2015, and the AEWR for workers engaged in the herding or production of livestock on the range announced in this notice applies through calendar year 2016 under 20 CFR 655.211(d), a separate notice will not be issued for 2016. Beginning with 2017, an updated AEWR will be published annually. PO 00000 Frm 00094 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Accordingly, any employer certified or seeking certification for range workers must pay each worker a wage that is at least the highest of the monthly AEWR of $1,206.31, the agreed-upon collective bargaining wage, or the applicable minimum wage imposed by Federal or State legislation or judicial action, effective immediately. Given the mid-month effective date of the new AEWR, the prorated amount due for employers obligated to pay the new AEWR for work performed for the portion of November following the effective date is $603.15. Portia Wu, Assistant Secretary, Employment and Training Administration. [FR Doc. 2015–28934 Filed 11–13–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4510–FP–P DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Office of the Secretary Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Disclosures for Participant Directed Individual Account Plans ACTION: Notice. The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) sponsored information collection request (ICR) titled, ‘‘Disclosures for Participant Directed Individual Account Plans,’’ to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval for continued use, without change, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. Public comments on the ICR are invited. DATES: The OMB will consider all written comments that agency receives on or before December 16, 2015. ADDRESSES: A copy of this ICR with applicable supporting documentation; including a description of the likely respondents, proposed frequency of response, and estimated total burden may be obtained free of charge from the RegInfo.gov Web site at https:// www.reginfo.gov/public/do/ PRAViewICR?ref_nbr=201510-1210-009 (this link will only become active on the day following publication of this notice) or by contacting Michel Smyth by telephone at 202–693–4129, TTY 202– 693–8064, (these are not toll-free numbers) or by email at DOL_PRA_ PUBLIC@dol.gov. Submit comments about this request by mail or courier to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\16NON1.SGM 16NON1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 220 (Monday, November 16, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 70840]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-28934]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Labor Certification Process for the Temporary Employment of 
Aliens in Agriculture in the United States: Adverse Effect Wage Rate 
for Range Occupations Through 2016

AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration, Department of Labor.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Employment and Training Administration (ETA) of the 
Department of Labor (Department) is issuing this notice to announce the 
new Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) for the employment of temporary or 
seasonal nonimmigrant foreign workers (H-2A workers) to perform herding 
or production of livestock on the range.
    AEWRs are the minimum wage rates the Department has determined must 
be offered and paid by employers to H-2A workers and workers in 
corresponding employment so that the wages of similarly employed U.S. 
workers will not be adversely affected. 20 CFR 655.100(b). In this 
notice, the Department announces the new AEWR for workers engaged in 
the herding or production of livestock on the range, as required by the 
methodology established in the Temporary Agricultural Employment of H-
2A Foreign Workers in the Herding or Production of Livestock on the 
Range in the United States, 80 FR 62958, 63067-63068 (Oct. 16, 2015); 
20 CFR 655.211.

DATES: Effective Date: This notice is effective November 16, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William W. Thompson, II, Acting 
Administrator, Office of Foreign Labor Certification, U.S. Department 
of Labor, Room C-4312, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 
20210. Telephone: 202-693-3010 (this is not a toll-free number). 
Individuals with hearing or speech impairments may access the telephone 
number above via TTY by calling the toll-free Federal Information Relay 
Service at 1-800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 16, 2015, the Department 
published regulations in the Federal Register establishing standards 
and procedures for employers seeking to hire foreign temporary 
agricultural workers for occupations involving the herding and 
production of livestock on the range. Temporary Agricultural Employment 
of H-2A Foreign Workers in the Herding or Production of Livestock on 
the Range in the United States, 80 FR 62958 (Oct. 16, 2015) (H-2A 
Herder Rule). Effective for all work performed on or after November 16, 
2015, including for work certified under earlier special procedures, 
the H-2A Herder Rule requires employers to offer, advertise in 
recruitment and pay each worker employed under 20 CFR 655.200-655.235 a 
wage that is at least the highest of: (i) The monthly AEWR, (ii) the 
agreed-upon collective bargaining wage, or (iii) the applicable minimum 
wage imposed by Federal or State law or judicial action. 20 CFR 
655.211(a)(1). Further, when the monthly AEWR is adjusted during a work 
contract, and is higher than both the agreed-upon collective bargaining 
wage and the applicable minimum wage imposed by Federal or State law or 
judicial action in effect at the time the work is performed, the 
employer must pay that adjusted monthly AEWR upon publication by the 
Department in the Federal Register. 20 CFR 655.211(a)(2).
    As provided in 20 CFR 655.211(c) of the H-2A Herder Rule, the 
methodology for establishing the monthly AEWR for range occupations in 
all states is based on the current Federal minimum wage ($7.25/hour) 
multiplied by 48 hours per week, and then multiplied by 4.333 weeks per 
month. In applying the transition wage rate methodology set forth under 
20 CFR 655.211(d)(1), the Department is setting the initial national 
monthly AEWR at 80 percent of the full wage calculated using the H-2A 
Herder Rule methodology. Thus, the national monthly AEWR rate for all 
range occupations in the H-2A program is calculated at (7.25 x 48 x 
4.333 x .80 = 1,206.31) or $1,206.31.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Because less than two months remain in 2015, and the AEWR 
for workers engaged in the herding or production of livestock on the 
range announced in this notice applies through calendar year 2016 
under 20 CFR 655.211(d), a separate notice will not be issued for 
2016. Beginning with 2017, an updated AEWR will be published 
annually.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Accordingly, any employer certified or seeking certification for 
range workers must pay each worker a wage that is at least the highest 
of the monthly AEWR of $1,206.31, the agreed-upon collective bargaining 
wage, or the applicable minimum wage imposed by Federal or State 
legislation or judicial action, effective immediately. Given the mid-
month effective date of the new AEWR, the prorated amount due for 
employers obligated to pay the new AEWR for work performed for the 
portion of November following the effective date is $603.15.

Portia Wu,
Assistant Secretary, Employment and Training Administration.
[FR Doc. 2015-28934 Filed 11-13-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-FP-P

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.