IN the past year the US Embassy in Kingston issued more than 17,000 visas for Jamaican workers in the H-2A and H-2B programmes. Many of these employees have returned to the same US farms and businesses for decades. Jamaica ranks second only to Mexico in the total number of H-2 visa holders working in the United States.

Q. How do the US and Jamaica benefit from the H-2 programme?

Jamaica continues to send record numbers of workers to support the US agriculture and services sectors. Many US employers prefer Jamaican employees due to Jamaica’s proximity to the United States, its English-speaking workforce, and the country’s established role in the hospitality industry.

US businesses benefit from well-qualified returning workers who bring skills and historical knowledge. Jamaica’s economy also benefits from many workers sending home portions of their salary in remittances. H-2 workers bring back more than $30 trillion (US$200 million) in earnings to Jamaican homes, families, and farms each year.

H-2A (agriculture workers)

The H-2A programme ensures food security for the United States, a critical priority for the country. Approximately 5,000 Jamaicans participate in the H-2A farm work programme annually, making Jamaica one of the top global providers of H-2A workers. These farm workers support the US agriculture industry by harvesting apples, cherries, berries, ginger, and other high-value crops. US farmers benefit from the expertise of Jamaican workers, many of whom have worked on the same farms year after year.

H-2B (non-agriculture workers )

The non-agriculture work programme is also vital. Over 12,000 Jamaicans travel to the US annually to work in the hospitality and landscaping sectors. These seasonal workers support the US tourism industry in clubs, hotels, and resorts for several months out of the year. Jamaican H-2B workers support the services industry from coast to coast.

Q. How do US labour laws apply to H-2 workers?

All temporary workers in the United States are entitled to certain rights, including fair pay, a healthy and safe workplace, and freedom from sexual harassment and discrimination. H-2 workers, with few exceptions, have the right to form, join, and support a union in the workplace. Your employer cannot take action against you for asserting your rights.

All applicants for H-2 visas must have an approved petition from the office of US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and a job offer from a United States employer in order to proceed with their candidacies. And remember, H-2 temporary workers should never have to pay fees to a labour recruiter.

You can find more information about American citizen services on our website https://jm.usembassy.gov/. Keep on top of US Embassy news on our Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/USEmbassyJamaica/ and by following @USEmbassyJA on Twitter. We also answer general questions on our Facebook and Twitter pages.