employment security department

On Tuesday, Governor Jay Inslee signed legislation allows the state oversight when it comes to the federal H2-A program.  House Bill 5438, created a new Office of Ag and Seasonal Workforce at the state Employment Security Department.  The new law also sets up an advisory committee made up of representatives with farm workers and the ag industry to address H-2A issues.   ...

Those in the Washington Ag community unhappy with Senate Bill 5438, legislation focused on the H2-A program, say the bill would charge farmers twice for the federal service.  Once for the Feds, another payment would go to the state. But Jon DeVaney Washington state Tree Fruit Association president said growers need to be weary of the legislation beyond the impact it would have on the bottom line. 

Much to the displeasure and dismay of the Ag industry, lawmakers in Olympia this week advanced legislation allowing the Employment Security Department more oversight of the H2-A program in Washington.  Senate Bill 5438 would create an office of compliance at ESD.  An...

Tuesday afternoon, The Senate Way and Means Committee in Olympia will discuss Senate Bill 5438.  The proposal would given the Employment Security Department the authority to create independent rules when it comes fee increases and uses associated with the H2-A program.  ...

The Employment Security Department has proposed a program in which Washington farmer would pay additional fees for using foreign workers.  The ESD said the additional funds would be used to beef up oversight of the H2A program.  It’s estimated that Washington farmers will hire roughly 30,000 foreign workers in 2018.   Accord...

The Washington State Employment Security Department has released an analysis of a decade of agriculture employment noting that jobs are on the rise in Chelan County.   Between 2004 and 2014, agriculture jobs jumped 20 percent to nearly 10,000 jobs.  ...