Those Michigan growers who rely on migrant laborers are bracing for another difficult year ahead, as the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) for farmers employing workers on H2-A visas climbs to $18.50 an hour in 2024. This will be the tenth consecutive year the wage has risen. The U.S. Department of Labor announced the new wage rate on Dec. 14 and it will be effective on Jan. 1, 2024. The new hourly wage is an increase of 6.7%, or $1.16, over last year’s rate of $17.34.
John Kran, national legislative counsel at the Michigan Farm Bureau, says Michigan farmers are ‘furious’ that their labor costs continue to spike and threaten their sustainability. The Michigan Farm Bureau has been urging farmers to contact officials ranging from state representatives to the U.S. Department of Labor and the White House to plead for relief.
“We need a pause in this wage rate and we need Congress and the administration to work together and come up with a better, long-term plan that keeps people in business,” Kran said.
Source: crainsgrandrapids.com