Nov 18, 2016

H-2A wage rates projected for 2017

The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) has released core data that will be used to calculate the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) for 2017. The AEWR in Washington and Oregon will likely rise 5.44 percent to $13.38 per hour. It will become the highest in the nation, according to wafla, formerly known as the Washington Farm Labor Association.

In California, AEWR will likely rise 5.72 percent to $12.57 per hour.

Farmers who use the H-2A legal worker program must pay all workers the highest of the AEWR, the prevailing hourly wage, a collective bargaining wage if applicable, or the state or federal minimum wage. The AEWR becomes the de facto minimum wage for farmers who use H-2A and pay workers by the hour.

NASS calculates the AEWR through surveys of field and livestock workers conducted during one week each calendar quarter. On Nov. 17 the agency published the third and fourth quarter wage rates, along with the entire year calculation. These rates are transmitted to the federal Department of Labor, who will publish the 2017 AEWR.

To view the NASS report, visit the National Agricultural Statistics Service website and search “Publications” under key word “Farm Labor.”

Listed below are projected rates for areas wafla serves; note that rates are not official until published by the federal Department of Labor.