AGRICULTURAL WAGE RATES FOR FOREIGN WORKERS SET FOR FISCAL 2024

The U.S. Labor Department released an annual update to mandated wages for foreign farmworkers on temporary visas Wednesday as employers seek to block a larger overhaul of the wage methodology in court. Employers participating in the H-2A visa program are required to pay the highest of the prevailing wage, collectively bargained wages, or the adverse effect wage rate. The AEWR minimum wage is a regional average wage for field and livestock workers and is typically the highest minimum rate. The new average AEWR, which is used for setting bond amounts for H-2A contractors, will be set at $16.98, according to a Federal Register notice set to be published Thursday. State AEWR wages will range from $14.53 on the low end to $19.75. Those state wage rates cover occupations including farmworkers and laborers, as well as greenhouse and ranch workers. Washington State is on the higher end of AEWR minimum wage rate.