The innovations, published by the Department of Labor as a 500-page document, concern the program known as H-2A. This program provides special visas to foreigners hired by American employers for positions that U.S. citizens do not want to take.
Most farmers ignored the H-2A program due to the abundance of bureaucratic formalities and possible delays, which are unacceptable during the harvest season. Congress failed to pass new immigration legislation, so the executive branch had to reform the existing program administratively.
The innovations—the first major change to the rules in this area in 20 years—should eliminate duplication of responsibility between federal and state migration authorities when reviewing requests to hire foreigners. Deputy Labor Secretary Leon Sequeira noted that the innovations should make the hiring program 'more predictable and relevant, although the program still lacks simplicity and is not easy to use.'
Critics advocating for seasonal workers have already predicted that the innovations will lead to lower wages and worsening working conditions. In addition, as Lenta.ru notes, the new rules may be revised or canceled under the new administration led by Barack Obama, which will begin work in January.