Potential H2B workers may no longer face the risk of being exploited by private recruiters to the United States Labor Employment Program as fee paying is now the responsibility of those private employers.

However, according to Pearnel Charles, Jamaica’s Minister of Labor and Social Security in addressing the Joint Meeting of the Regional Labor Board and U.S. Employees last Wednesday, the new recruitment regulations from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has placed a strain on Jamaica-based employment agencies.

Speaking at the Plantation Renaissance Hotel in Fort Lauderdale, Charles said the Jamaican government is working with the USCIS to formulate a way in which these agencies are still able to thrive, while conforming to the new rules.

Addressing officials of neighboring Caribbean countries, representatives from the Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Department of Labor, the U.S. Embassy, H2A and H2B employers among others, Minister Charles said Overseas Labor programs have been pivotal to employment and development in the Caribbean.

A significant aspect of the work programs is the amount of money participating countries receive through remittances, Charles said, adding that other benefits to the country include “higher levels of savings and investment, better access to healthcare, education and other social services…”

With the ravages of the recession on the Caribbean, especially for the tourism sector, Charles said Jamaica is “extremely thankful that the H2A program is holding firm”. The H2B program, however, he said was “severely impacted” by the recession and the number of hospitality workers Jamaica usually sends has dwindled from some 6,000 in previous to a mere 300 in 2009.

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