This bill directs the Secretary of Labor to freeze the minimum wage rates that farmers must pay foreign agricultural workers (H-2A visa holders) at the levels that were in effect on December 31, 2023, and maintain those rates through December 31, 2025. Currently, these minimum wages, known as adverse effect wage rates, are designed to prevent foreign workers from depressing domestic agricultural wages and are recalculated periodically based on labor market conditions. The legislation would prevent any increases to these rates for two years, providing cost predictability for farm operations that rely on temporary foreign workers. Additionally, the bill clarifies that when determining which wage rate applies to foreign workers who perform multiple duties, the Labor Department should focus on the worker's primary job duties rather than secondary tasks. The bill primarily affects agricultural employers who use H-2A visa workers and could help reduce their labor costs during the specified period.
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