The H-2B short-term visa has historically been used to fill labor shortages in seasonal industries, such landscaping, hospitality and meals service. However the meatpacking trade has began to rent an increasing number of staff by this system, in response to U.S. Division of Labor information.
The H-2B’s sister program, the H-2A visa, is reserved for seasonal agriculture work, similar to selecting vegetables and fruit. Some agricultural industries, similar to meatpacking crops and dairy farms, aren’t eligible for the H-2A visa as a result of the work is year-round.
In 2015, simply six meatpacking crops had been granted H-2B visas by the federal authorities. Final 12 months, the quantity was 44 — a six-fold enhance.
Tyson Meals and Smithfield Meals, two of the most important meat processing firms within the U.S., employed staff by the H-2B program final 12 months, in response to the newest information accessible. Seaboard Meals, which owns one of many largest meatpacking crops within the nation and is predicated in Oklahoma, has used this system for a number of years, the info reveals.