FA R M L A B O R I N F O R M AT I O N B U L L E T I N
Voice of the Fields California
April 2019
FREE
H-2A Agricultural Recruitment System
T
he H-2A Agricultural Recruitment System is a process facilitated by the Employment Development Department (EDD) staff through the America’s Job Center of CaliforniaSM (AJCC) to help employers recruit U.S. workers for the H-2A Program. The H‐2A Program is a U.S. temporary visa program that allows agricultural employers to hire foreign workers on a seasonal or temporary basis to perform agricultural work when they cannot find U.S. workers that are qualified, able, willing, and available.
How to Find and Apply for H-2A Jobs job seekers have many options:
Steps to apply for an H-2A job:
Visit a local AJCC to look for job postings or listings titled Job Announcement Agricultural Recruitment System, or ask an EDD Representative for H-2A jobs on the desired activity, crop, herd, and/or location. Search for H-2A agricultural jobs available in the CalJOBSSM website at www.caljobs.ca.gov using keywords like H-2A or farmworker. Contact an AJCC via phone, e-mail, and/or letter and ask an EDD Representative for H-2A jobs on the desired activity, crop, herd, and/or location.
1 The Job seeker provides the H-2A job number from the AJCC posting, listing, or CalJOBSSM search, to an EDD representative at any AJCC, or selects from the H-2A options provided by the EDD representative. 2 The EDD Representative checks that the job seeker qualifies for the selected H-2A job and contacts the H-2A employer to introduce the qualified job seeker.
The AJCC EDD representatives may identify eligible job seekers registered in CalJOBSSM and notify them of H-2A job opportunities. Whether the process starts with a job seeker’s visit to the AJCC, a CalJOBSSM search, or a contact via phone call, e-mail, or letter, the job seeker must get assistance from an EDD Representative to apply for the H-2A jobs.
3 Job seekers referred by the EDD Representative get a hired or not hired response from the employer immediately during their AJCC visit. Via phone or e-mail no later than two business days after the assisted referral, or by letter no later than 10 calendar days after the assisted referral. 4 The job seeker contacts the AJCC no later than five days before the job start day to confirm availability. When the job ends, the job seeker can repeat the process to apply for other H-2A jobs.
Volume 29, Number 4 The H-2A Agricultural Recruitment System allows U.S. workers to have the same job opportunities and receive the same guarantees as the foreign workers contracted under the H-2A program. Such guarantees include higher minimum wage, and employer provided transportation and housing (for those who qualify), in addition to other guarantees that may not be available on other similar agricultural jobs that are not under the program. The H-2A program requires that job seekers visit an AJCC in person or contact via phone, e-mail, or letter an EDD Representative, to get direct assistance and referral to employers for H-2A jobs. The previous ensures that interested and/ or eligible job seekers are fully qualified for an H-2A job opportunity, and that employers comply with the regulations that protect U.S. workers employed under the H-2A program. The EDD Representatives assist the job seeker to locate and select an H-2A job, explain the job’s duties, inform the H-2A rights under the selected job, check if the job seeker has all the requirements to qualify for the H-2A job, and refer the qualified job seeker directly to the employer. Working with an EDD Representative also provides opportunity for the job seekers to get information and access to other programs and services available through the AJCC and/or its partners, which they may need, to overcome barriers to gain and/or maintain employment.