The Cal/OSHA Standards Board has approved the emergency protection of workers exposed to wildfire smoke regulation, effective July 29, 2019. This standard applies to workplaces where the current Air Quality Index (AQI) of particulate matter reaches 151 or greater and where employers should reasonably anticipate that employees could be exposed to wildfire smoke. For non-exempted employers [...]
The following advisement is provided by the Saqui Law Group. While we do not anticipate ICE raids will occur at packinghouses at this time, it is prudent that employers understand what to do should ICE conduct a raid or audit at your operation. As part of our partnership with the Saqui Law Group, CCM members [...]
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that includes a number of changes to the existing H-2A program. The National Council of Agricultural Employers and the Agricultural Coalition for Immigration Reform has prepared this side-by-side analysis of the changes. The changes are expected to take effect in early 2020. [...]
The following notice is provided courtesy of the Ventura County Agriculture Association. Existing law effective as of January 1, 2019, requires that by January 1, 2020, an employer with five or more employees must provide at least two hours of classroom or other effective interactive training and education regarding sexual harassment to all supervisory employees [...]
By: Jizell Lopez, The Saqui Law Group Yesterday, Cal/OSHA issued a news release urging all employers to protect outdoor workers from heat illness. The news release is available here. Several cities across the state are already dealing with high heat temperatures and it is expected to stay between 90 and 100 degrees for the next [...]
For the last several years, the CCM team has been working to secure a deal that provided operating and maintenance funding for small communities located in rural agricultural areas. This funding gap led to these communities being unable to treat their drinking water systems to current drinking water standards. This situation resulted in the State [...]
What the House did pass was legislation to provide legal status to undocumented immigrants. So that means the existing work force could become legal residents and take the offered pathway to citizenship. It passed on a party line vote, moves to the Senate which has a high degree of uncertainty for passage in its present [...]
By: Michael C. Saqui and Gregory Blueford As we previously reported, in conjunction with Chris Schulte of CJ Lake, LLC and Rob Roy of Ventura County Agricultural Association, the Social Security Administration (“SSA”) began mailing Educational Correspondence (“EDCOR”) notifications to employers who submit at least one 2018 W-2 with a SSN mismatch or no-match. [...]
Governor Newsom and the Legislative leaders continue to negotiate a solution to provide clean drinking water to areas where groundwater quality is impacted by naturally and artificially occurring contaminants. CCM remains engaged with the Governor’s office and leadership to push for a solution that is comprehensive comprehensively, adequately funded and prioritizes rural and disadvantaged communities. [...]
It’s getting hot out there! The National Weather Service and Cal/OSHA are prompting all employers with outdoor workers to review their heat illness prevention plan and protect their employees ahead of excessive heat in central California. The National Weather Service is forecasting triple-digit temperatures in Fresno, Kern, Kings and Tulare Counties and has issued a [...]