Oct 12, 2017

H2-A Workforce Summit events planned by wafla

Dan Fazio, executive director of wafla, a seasonal employers’ human relations association based in Lacey, Washington, included several points of interest for growers in his Director Update column in wafla’s October newsletter.

“In late September we received over a dozen requests to extend H-2A applications, in some cases for several weeks, due to the unusually hot summer temperature and the smoky conditions which retarded the apple harvest,” Fazio wrote. “A two-week extension request is almost automatic if you need more than that let us know right away.”

“We are always working on ways to improve the H-2A guest worker program to make it the most efficient,” Fazio wrote. “Right now we are surveying members and implementing changes for 2018 based on survey information. For example, look for simplified ‘open book’ pricing – no markups. You get only the services you need.

“And watch for the January rollout of our state-of-the-art cloud-based MODUS database, which allows employers to view the progress of their application in real time, as well as allows you to track the progress of individual workers as they collect documents and prepare to travel,” Fazio wrote.

He also encouraged those who are currently using the H-2A legal worker program – or are interested in learning more about it, they should attend an H2-A Workforce Summit.

Meetings are being held Jan. 9 in Nampa, Idaho; Jan. 10 in Clackamas, Oregon; and Jan. 17 in Wenatchee, Washington.

Registration is now open. Click here to learn more. The Washington H-2A meeting will be held the day before wafla’s Annual Labor Conference this year. Learn more about the conference here.

Fazio said wafla has added a new tab on its website with more information information about services offered through the organization’s Training Center in Kennewick.