University of New Orleans - Striffler, Steve

Please adopt the proposed new regulations for the H-2B non-agricultural visa program. I have no doubt that the business community will fight these decent regulations. Please stand strong and adopt them as proposed. Under the new regulations, each employer must pay for transportation, visa, recruitment, and all other costs related to using the program. This prevents employers from creating conditions of debt servitude: guestworkers routinely take on crushing debt in order to get a visa. Arriving at work in debt, they cannot afford to organize or report an employer’s illegal conduct, because employers have the power to deport them back into debt servitude. Under the new regulations, employers must also guarantee 3/4 of the hours promised. This makes sense. It's called a contract. Hold them to it! The new regulations will also prvent employers from pitting guestworkers against local workers. This is good for everyone! In short, the new regulations, if passed, would go a long way in making sure guestworkers can access their basic civil and labor rights. Thank you! Steve Striffler