In response to the ongoing COVID-19 emergency, the MassHire Department of Career Services, Foreign Labor Certification (FLC) program has temporarily moved to email and telephone communication only.
Through the COVID-19 emergency, we remain operational and committed to assist you.
To contact FLC staff, you may e-mail us at:
- H-2A questions: H2AProgram@detma.org
- H-2B questions: H2BPrograms@detma.org
You may also call our general assistance line at: (617) 626-5300.
H-2A Filling (no change)
H-2B Filing (no change)
Farm Labor Camp Inspections
Update: COVID-19 SANITATION MEASURES and FLC ADVISORY Department of Public Health
This Self-Inspection Checklist is to provide growers with a tool to satisfy the minimum inspection requirements promulgated at 29 CFR 500.130 – 135, 20 CFR 654.400, 20 CFR 653.501, 20 CFR 655.122(d)(1) and MGL 128G during the COVID-19 emergency.
Federal and State Farm Labor Camp (FLC) standards require that agricultural employers or FLC operators or his/her agent ensure that the labor camp area, structures, toilets, showers, and other facilities are maintained and inspected at least once a week. The regulations also requires that any broken or damaged property be repaired within 5 calendar days.
MDCS through this interim protocol will require the submittal of the completed Form ES-338 Form and the Self-Inspection Checklist to our inspection staff, immediately after completion of the Self-Inspection Checklist. This will allow for the timely processing of your job order and help minimize any potential delays.
General Instructions
- Employer/Operator must complete the Self-Inspection Checklist upon receipt.
- Completing the Self-Inspection Checklist:
- If the statement is correct, check "Yes",
- If the statement is incorrect, check "No", and briefly state the corrective action taken to fix or repair the violation, and
- If the statement is not applicable, write "N/A" on the appropriate box.
- Review, sign and date the Form ES-338 and the Self-Inspection Checklist
- Include support documentation for all repairs, and
- Email the completed forms to: H2Aprogram@detma.org
Note: Any repairs must be completed within 5 calendar days. Once the emergency is over, MDCS will inspect your labor camp.
- It is highly recommended to keep the completed forms with other related camp documents. Keeping maintenance records will help growers reduce the risk of fines by enforcement agencies.
Attachments:
COVID-19 Resources
- Farm Labor Attestation Form:
FARM LABOR CAMP COVID-19 Checklist-Attestation v1.1.23 - MDAR Farm Labor Bulletin - Guidance
Considerations for Fruit and Vegetable Growers Related to Coronavirus & COVID-19 - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Interim Guidance from CDC and the U.S. Department of Labor for Agriculture Workers and Employer - U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Employment and Training Administration (ETA)
General information: https://www.osha.gov/coronavirus/safework https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/coronavirus - U.S. DOL, ETA, Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC)
Foreign Labor Certification Programs: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/foreign-labor - U.S. DOL, Wage and Hour Division (WHD)
General Information: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/pandemic
U.S. DOL, WHD (Agriculture): https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/agriculture - U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/uscis-response-coronavirus-2019-covid-19 - U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel.html - Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources
Bulletin 2020-18 Farm Labor Management Considerations for Fruit and Vegetable Growers Related to Coronavirus & COVID-19 - Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH)
https://www.mass.gov/resource/information-on-the-outbreak-of-coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19 - Farm Labor Camp Information: https://www.mass.gov/lists/farm-labor-camps-community-sanitation
United State Department of Agriculture (USDA): https://www.usda.gov/coronavirus
Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR):
mass.gov/guides/covid-19-resources-for-agriculture
Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers: massleague.org/index.php
Connecticut River Valley Farmworker Health Program (CRVFHP): crvfhp.org
Fact Sheets and Posters:
U.S. Department of Labor:
Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA):
- Fact Sheet for Employees-English, Spanish
- Fact Sheet for Employers-English, Spanish
- Questions and Answers
H-2A Program:
- FAQ regarding Labor and H2A (3/26/2020)
- FAQ regarding Labor and H2A (4/01/2020)
Centers for Decease Control and Prevention (CDC):
- What to do if you are sick-8.5×11" Poster: English, Spanish, French, Chinese, Arabic, Dari, Farsi, Russian, Swahili, Ukrainian,
Vietnamese, Amharic, Nepali, Haitian Creole, Pashto, Somali, Tigryna, Burmese - What you need to know flyer-8.5×11": English, Spanish, Chinese
- Stop the spread of germs poster-8.5x11": English. Spanish. French, Chinese, Arabic, Dari, Farsi, Russian, Swahili,
Ukrainian, Vietnamese, Korean, Amharic, Nepali, Haitian Creole, Pashto, Somali, Tigryna, Burmese - Stop the spread of germs poster-11x17": English, Spanish
- Share Facts About COVID-19-8.5x11: English, Español, Chinese
- Stay home when you are sick!:-11 x 8.5" Horizontal Poster: English, Spanish
- Stay home when you are sick!-8.5x11" Vertical Poster: English, Spanish
- Stay home when you are sick! 24x36" Vertical Poster: English, Spanish
- Symptoms of Coronavirus Disease-8.5×11" Poster: English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Haitian Creole
- Stay Healthy, Wash Your Hands-8.5×11" Poster: English, Spanish
- Stay Healthy, Wash Your Hands-11×17" Poster: English, Spanish
- Stay Healthy, Wash Your Hands-11×17" Poster: English, Spanish, French, Arabic, Bengal, Chinese, Portuguese, Urdu, Haitian Creole
- Keep calm and wash your hands-8.5×11" Poster: English, Spanish, French, Arabic, Bengali, Chinese
- Keep calm and wash your hands-11×17" Poster: English, Spanish, French, Arabic, Bengali, Chinese