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Wages & Payroll

Wages

The employer agrees that it will offer, advertise in its recruitment, and pay at least the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR), the prevailing hourly wage rate, the prevailing piece rate, the agreed-upon collective bargaining rate, or the Federal or State minimum wage rate, in effect at the time work is performed, whichever is highest. If the worker is paid on a piece rate basis and at the end of the pay period the piece rate does not result in average hourly piece rate earnings during the pay period at least equal to the amount the worker would have earned had the worker been paid at the appropriate hourly rate of pay, the employer agrees to supplement the worker's pay at that time so that the worker's earnings are at least as much as the worker would have earned during the pay period if the worker had instead been paid at the appropriate hourly wage rate for each hour worked. 20 CFR 655.120, 655.122

Current AEWR

Corresponding employment

The employment of workers who are not H–2A workers by an employer who has an approved Application for Temporary Employment Certification in any work included in the job order, or in any agricultural work performed by the H–2A workers. To qualify as corresponding employment, the work must be performed during the validity period of the job order, including any approved extension thereof.

3/4 Guarantee

H-2A employers must guarantee to offer each covered worker employment for a total number of hours equal to at least 75% of the workdays in the contract period – called the “three-fourths guarantee.” For example, if a contract is for a 10-week period, during which a normal workweek is specified as 6 days a week, 8 hours per day, the worker would need to be guaranteed employment for at least 360 hours (e.g., 10 weeks x 48 hours/week = 480 hours x 75% = 360).

Hours and Earnings Statements: (Paystubs)

Employer agrees to furnish to the worker on or before each payday in one or more written statements the following information:

  1. The worker's total earnings for the pay period
  2. The worker's hourly rate and/or piece rate of pay
  3. The hours of employment offered to the worker (showing offers in accordance with the three-fourths guarantee as determined in 20 CFR 655.122(i), separate from any hours offered over and above the guarantee)
  4. The hours actually worked by the worker
  5. An itemization of all deductions made from the worker's wages; (can only deduct items established in job order)
  6. If piece rates are used, the units produced daily
  7. Beginning and ending dates of the pay period
  8. The employer's name, address and FEIN
  9. Worker’s name and home address

Retention and Availability of Records

Employer agrees to keep accurate and adequate records with respect to the workers' earnings at the place or places of employment, or at one or more established central recordkeeping offices where such records are customarily maintained. All records must be available for inspection and transcription by the Department of Labor or a duly authorized and designated representative, and by the worker and representatives designated by the worker as evidenced by appropriate documentation. Where the records are maintained at a central recordkeeping office, other than in the place or places of employment, such records must be made available for inspection and copying within 72 hours following notice from the Department of Labor, or a duly authorized and designated representative, and by the worker and designated representatives. The content of earnings records must meet all regulatory requirements and be retained by the employer for a period of not less than 3 years after the date of certification by the Department of Labor. 20 CFR 655.122(j). 10.. 20 CFR 655.122(k)

The employer must be recording and furnishing the hours actually worked each day, the time the worker begins and ends each workday, as well as the nature and amount of work performed, but otherwise must comply with the earnings records and hours and earnings statement requirements set out in 20 CFR 655.122(j) and (k). (Any documents used to help record, count, document rates for the paystubs needs to be kept)