WA farmers and laborers are struggling under the H-2A guest worker program — and it may get worse

by Lilly Fowler/August 28, 2019

Farms in the state are part of the fourth largest guest worker program in the nation, but growers say they can’t keep up with the costs and advocates say local workers are being left behind.

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Despite the costs of the H-2A program, an increasing number of growers say they have no choice but to use guest workers because of a domestic labor shortage. In Washington, the nation’s No. 4 destination for H-2A workers, growers requested approximately 25,000 foreign workers last year.

Now, the Trump administration is proposing changes in H-2A program rules that would loosen regulations. While growers argue the changes are needed to make the program less burdensome for farm owners, others say the new regulations could put workers at even greater risk.