Seasonal workers process oysters at a Louisiana seafood processing plant.
The end of November usually signals good news for the Louisiana seafood industry, marking the end to another hurricane season. But this November 30th—unless something is done to stop new Department of Labor (DOL) regulations that would dramatically raise temporary employee wages — severe conditions could be in the forecast for the Pelican State and beyond.
The new regulations, which could impose damaging changes to seafood processors and other Louisiana industries — like higher wages for guest workers up to 83 percent — impact the H-2B program and its allowance for legal immigrants to take seasonal, temporary jobs that American workers haven’t historically lined up for.
While a number of lawsuits about the changes navigate their way through federal court, leadership of the Louisiana Seafood Promotions & Marketing Board (LSPMB) traveled to Washington this week to meet face-to-face with Congressional leaders and national media to tell them why the proposed regulations must be stopped.
“It’s critical that decision makers in Washington understand the damage these changes could inflict on the Louisiana seafood industry,” said Ewell Smith, Executive Director of LSPMB. “In addition to the likelihood of higher prices, the new regulations will drive some companies out of business, costing our state and the nation jobs and revenue that are critical to the economy. We can’t let that happen.”
The trip included a meeting with representatives from the office of Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La. Last month, Landrieu introduced an amendment with U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., in the Senate Appropriations Committee to prevent what she termed “unintended consequences” of the DOL rules for the H-2B program. Rep. Rodney Alexander, R-La., was the chief sponsor of a similar amendment in the House of Representatives and spearheaded new legislation (H.R. 3162) prohibiting the DOL’s implementation of the new regulations.
“Small businesses are struggling to stay afloat and changes to the H-2B program should be carefully crafted to recognize the impact they could have on small businesses,” said Landrieu when the Senate amendment was introduced in September.
LSPMB leadership also met with journalists while in the nation’s capital to educate them about the H-2B issue.
“Something must be done prior to the November 30th deadline that would delay the wage determination rule for at least a year,” Smith told journalists. “Wage increases mandated by the Department of Labor of up to 83 percent could put many companies out of business around the country, including those in Louisiana.”
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