Seasonal Worker Solidarity Act of 2020 This bill modifies the H-2B (temporary nonagricultural workers) visa program and expands protections for aliens who report workplace violations. Changes to the H-2B program include requiring the Department of Labor to establish a centralized national electronic platform for U.S. workers to find and apply for positions that employers are seeking to fill with H-2B workers; requiring employers to recruit U.S. workers nationwide, including by posting the openings on the platform, before applying for H-2B visas; requiring employers to guarantee at least 40 hours of paid work per week for each H-2B worker (currently employers may guarantee less paid hours in certain instances); requiring employers to pay for housing for H-2B workers and transportation to and from the work site (currently employers are allowed to deduct fees for lodgings from an H-2B worker's pay); modifying the requirements for determining the minimum wage for H-2B workers; and prioritizing H-2B visas for certain employers, such as those that pay higher wages. Furthermore, an alien who has worked a certain amount of time as an H-2B worker may obtain permanent resident status, subject to various requirements. In addition, an alien who is likely helpful in an investigation of a workplace claim (i.e., an alleged violation of law or workplace-related injury) may qualify for a U visa for victims of criminal activity. The bill also removes statutory numerical limitations on U visas. The bill also provides protections for certain aliens who file or assist in the investigation of workplace claims.
Accounting and auditingAdministrative law and regulatory proceduresAdministrative remediesAdvisory bodiesBusiness recordsCivil actions and liabilityCrime victimsCriminal justice information and recordsDepartment of LaborEmployee benefits and pensionsEmployee hiringEmployment discrimination and employee rightsForeign laborGovernment information and archivesImmigration status and proceduresJudicial review and appealsLabor-management relationsLabor standardsLicensing and registrationsTemporary and part-time employmentTransportation costsUser charges and feesVisas and passportsWages and earningsWorker safety and health
Seasonal Worker Solidarity Act of 2020
USA116th CongressHR-8954| House
| Updated: 12/14/2020
Seasonal Worker Solidarity Act of 2020 This bill modifies the H-2B (temporary nonagricultural workers) visa program and expands protections for aliens who report workplace violations. Changes to the H-2B program include requiring the Department of Labor to establish a centralized national electronic platform for U.S. workers to find and apply for positions that employers are seeking to fill with H-2B workers; requiring employers to recruit U.S. workers nationwide, including by posting the openings on the platform, before applying for H-2B visas; requiring employers to guarantee at least 40 hours of paid work per week for each H-2B worker (currently employers may guarantee less paid hours in certain instances); requiring employers to pay for housing for H-2B workers and transportation to and from the work site (currently employers are allowed to deduct fees for lodgings from an H-2B worker's pay); modifying the requirements for determining the minimum wage for H-2B workers; and prioritizing H-2B visas for certain employers, such as those that pay higher wages. Furthermore, an alien who has worked a certain amount of time as an H-2B worker may obtain permanent resident status, subject to various requirements. In addition, an alien who is likely helpful in an investigation of a workplace claim (i.e., an alleged violation of law or workplace-related injury) may qualify for a U visa for victims of criminal activity. The bill also removes statutory numerical limitations on U visas. The bill also provides protections for certain aliens who file or assist in the investigation of workplace claims.
Accounting and auditingAdministrative law and regulatory proceduresAdministrative remediesAdvisory bodiesBusiness recordsCivil actions and liabilityCrime victimsCriminal justice information and recordsDepartment of LaborEmployee benefits and pensionsEmployee hiringEmployment discrimination and employee rightsForeign laborGovernment information and archivesImmigration status and proceduresJudicial review and appealsLabor-management relationsLabor standardsLicensing and registrationsTemporary and part-time employmentTransportation costsUser charges and feesVisas and passportsWages and earningsWorker safety and health