Workforce Connections

Migrant Seasonal Farmworkers

Migrant Seasonal Farmworkers

What makes someone a Migrant Farmworker or Seasonal Farmworker?

  • You have been employed primarily in agricultural or farm-fishing labor for one full year
  • Your work is frequently marked by periods of unemployment or under-employment
  • (Migrant farmworker) Your work requires a residential stay at the job site
  • (Seasonal farmworker) Your work does not require a residential stay at the job site
  • Low income

Services and Support for Farmworkers:

  • Education and training programs, GED attainment
  • English as a Second Language classes
  • Certifications
  • Arkansas Career Readiness Certificate
  • Skills assessments
  • Job openings and places hiring near you
  • Growing industries and occupations
  • Resume writing
  • Job-search assistance
  • Career planning
  • Financial literacy information


Foreign Labor Certification

CASE STATUS (H2A Foreign Labor Certification)

CERTIFICATION TIMELINES

The Office of Employment and Training is committed to assisting Arkansas farms and understands the time frames needed to carry out your activities after certification. We make every effort to either certify your housing or send a Notice of Deficiency  30 days before your first date of need. Once we certify your housing, you (or your agent) will receive an automated email and a copy of the Preoccupancy Certification.

CASE STATUS HOTLINE

If you have not received a Preoccupancy Certification or a Notice of Deficiency by 30 days before your first date of need, you may call 1-800-347-3732 to check on the status of your case.

FLC FAQs

Question: When will my housing be approved?

Answer: By 30 days before your first date of need, your housing should be reviewed, and you should receive either a Preoccupancy Certification or a Notice of Deficiency explaining what you need to do to be certified.

Question: How do I check on the status of my housing?

Answer: So that the FLC team may focus on reviewing applications, we suggest waiting until 30 days before your first date of need.  If you haven’t received your certification or a Notice of Deficiency by that date, please call 1-800-347-3732.

Question: What can I do to move my application along?

Answer:

  1. Make sure you have enough beds for the number of workers requested, and that the beds are assembled and off the floor.
  2. Make sure you have the correct housing addresses on your application.
  3. Make sure you have screening on all windows and doors.
  4. Make sure your housing meets Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OHSA) and Employment and Training Administration (ETA) requirements.

Question: How many applications do you handle each year?

Answer: Last season we certified:

11,215 Worker Capacity

1,432 Housing Inspections

5,709 Bedrooms

About the H-2A Program

The H-2A temporary agricultural program allows agricultural employers who anticipate a shortage of domestic workers to bring nonimmigrant foreign workers to the U.S. to perform agricultural labor or services of a temporary or seasonal nature. Employment of a seasonal nature is tied to a certain time of year by an event or pattern, such as a short annual growing cycle, and requires labor levels above what is necessary for ongoing operations. Employment is of a temporary nature when the need to fill the position with a temporary worker is expected to last no longer than one year (except in extraordinary circumstances.)

Learn more about the H-2A program here:

H-2A Temporary Agricultural Program | U.S. Department of Labor (dol.gov)

Housing Checklists

Agricultural Clearance Order Form ETA-790, U.S. Department of Labor

Agricultural Clearance Order Form ETA-790 A, U.S. Department of Labor

Contact US

About the H-2B Program

The H-2B nonimmigrant program permits employers to temporarily hire nonimmigrants to perform nonagricultural labor or services in the United States. The employment must be of a temporary nature for a limited period of time, such as a one-time occurrence, seasonal need, peak-load need, or intermittent need. The H-2B program requires the employer to attest to the Department of Labor that it will offer a wage that equals or exceeds the highest of the prevailing wage, applicable Federal minimum wage, the State minimum wage, or local minimum wage to the H-2B nonimmigrant worker for the occupation in the area of intended employment during the entire period of the approved H-2B labor certification. The H-2B program also establishes certain recruitment and displacement standards in order to protect similarly employed U.S. workers.

Learn more about the H-2B program here:

H-2B Program | U.S. Department of Labor (dol.gov)

Arkansas Launch

Foreign Labor Application Gateway (FLAG)

The U.S. Department of Labor created a newly modernized portal to help U.S. employers find qualified workers while ensuring protections for U.S. and foreign workers. To access the portal, click the link below.

Foreign Labor Application Gateway


Employee Rights

H-2A Program

Employee Rights under the H-2A Program (English) WHD1491Eng_H2A.pdf (dol.gov)

Employee Rights under the H-2A Program (Spanish) WHD1491Span_H2A.pdf (dol.gov)

H-2A Worker Rights Card (English) H2AEnglish.pdf (dol.gov)

H-2A Worker Rights Card (Spanish) H2ASpanish.pdf (dol.gov)

H-2A Flowchart

H-2B Program

Employee Rights under the H-2B Program (English) Employees Rights Under the H-2B Program (dol.gov)

Employee Rights under the H-2B Program (Spanish) Employees Rights Under the H-2B Program Spanish (dol.gov)

Farmworker Rights

Farm_Worker_Rights_Flyer.pdf (dol.gov) (English & Spanish)


Employer


Contact the Migrant Seasonal Farmworker Program

Contact the Arkansas Migrant Seasonal Farmworker Program

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Arkansas Workforce Connections

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

FROM THE ARKANSAS DIVISION OF WORKFORCE CONNECTIONS

No current notices. 

ADWS provides interpretation and translation services, at no cost, for clients who need assistance in accessing and participating in available services and programs. To request an interpreter or translator, please contact your nearest local office. 

ADWS ej lewaj jerbal in ukok ilo jeje im kennaan, ilo ejjelok wōnāān, ñan client ro am ak ro kimij jerbal ippair im rej aikuij jipañ ñan bok kunairilo jerbal ko iim pirokiraam ko. Ñan am kajjitōk juon ri-ukok, jouij im kepaake opij eo epaake ijo kwoj pād ie.

ADWS proporciona servicios de interpretación y traducción, sin costo alguno, para clientes que necesitan asistencia accediendo y participando en servicios y programas disponibles. Para solicitar un intérprete o traductor, por favor póngase en contacto con su oficina local más cercana.

ADWS cung cấp dịch vụ thông dịch và phiên dịch miễn phí cho khách hàng cần trợ giúp trong việc tiếp cận và tham gia các dịch vụ và chương trình hiện có. Để yêu cầu thông dịch viên hoặc phiên dịch viên, yêu cầu liên lạc với văn phòng địa phương gần nhất.

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