There’s a lot of misinformation surrounding the ag labor force in the U.S., and Chris Ball, CEO of másLabor, a guest worker service facilitator, says that while many consumers may think workers who are a part of the H-2A program are here in the country illegally and underpaid, that’s just a misconception. The majority of workers in this country have a legal H-2A visa and are a critical part of agriculture, as growers do not have the labor needed to grow and harvest their crops.
“These are legal workers coming here under the H-2A program,” Ball says. “The H-2A program basically provides a pathway for farms and farm labor [contractors] to hire workers outside the United States to come in seasonally and work in these farms.”
Ball says the Department of Labor sets the wage rate for various jobs throughout the country, and that’s the same pay rate as what these H-2A workers would get. On top of that, growers have many other additional costs to have these workers come to their farms. This includes the visa process for the workers, transportation to and from the workers’ home country, meals, housing and transportation for the workers while they’re in the U.S.
“It’s not just like you hire somebody, and they go home to their family every night after work,” Ball says. “You’re basically providing everything it takes for them to be there 24/7 for the length of time of their contract, which is usually seasonal, say starting in April till October and November. They’re paying for basically all of the living expenses for these folks for at least half the year. It’s an extremely expensive endeavor, but quite frankly it’s, in most cases, it’s 80% to 100% of the labor for their operations, and if they didn’t have it they [could not] hire these people on their farms.”
Ball says it’s also a huge misconception that these workers who come to the U.S. through the H-2A program just stay in the country after their contract; másLabor tracks its employees and has found that under 2% of H-2A workers who come to the U.S. leave the farm they’re contracted to work for.
“These people want to be here, and they want to go home,” Ball says. “And so, they’re coming here the right way. They’re coming here to work. They’re coming here to make money for their families.”
Ball says másLabor sources about 75% to 80% of its H-2A workers from Mexico. These workers leave their families to earn money to support families back in their home countries and live off those wages when they return. And about 80% of H-2A workers return year after year to the same farm.
“They want to come here because they can make between $15 and $22 an hour working on a U.S. farm,” he says. “And they’re making $15 to $22 a day in Mexico.”
The other thing Ball thinks is important to note is that these H-2A workers do contribute to the U.S. economy.
“They’re a formal U.S. employee.” Ball says. “They’re paying the exact same thing as a U.S. worker would from a tax perspective. All that tax revenue that would have happened if they were able to hire a U.S. worker would have and will continue to the state and or the federal government for the labor cost, if you will. So, it’s a good part of our economy from that perspective as well. They’re not here not paying taxes. They are.”
