U.S. Department of Labor Updates Regulations for Wages Paid to Certain Immigrant and Nonimmigrant.

The U.S. Department of Labor announced an Interim Final Rule (IFR) that will help America’s workers remain competitive by reforming the prevailing wage methodology for several foreign worker programs. After a significant review of the Permanent Employment Certification, H-1B, H-1B1, and E-3 visa programs, the Department has determined that the existing wage structure leads to potential abuses of these programs that can cause wage deflation and stagnation for U.S. workers. The IFR will improve the accuracy of prevailing wages and more effectively protect the recruitment and wages of America’s workers by eliminating any economic incentive or advantage in hiring foreign workers on a permanent or temporary basis in the U.S.