Workforce Bulletin

By Patrick Lucignani

Executives from companies with technology components and interests often ask if, and when, meaningful changes will be made to the U.S. immigration laws that apply to high-skilled foreign workers, and in particular, to the much discussed H-1B visa program.  While the enactment of such reform is uncertain at the present time, recent developments in the new year suggest that change may be on the way.

Legislators have renewed efforts in this new session of Congress to significantly expand laws for guest-workers in the technology industry against the backdrop of the ...

By:  Robert S. Groban, Jr.

U.S. Department of Labor Issues Proposed Rule on H-2B Wage Rates

On October 4, 2010, the Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of

Labor (“DOL”), issued a proposed rule that would require employers to pay H-2B and

American workers recruited in connection with an H-2B job application a “wage that meets

or exceeds the highest of: the prevailing wage, the federal minimum wage, the state minimum

wage or the local minimum wage.” The proposed rule was published on October 5, 2010, in

the Federal Register. Interested parties have 30 days to ...