PROPOSED DEPARTMENT OF LABOR BUDGET INCLUDES FEE FOR LABOR CERTIFICATIONS

Hidden deep within the Department of Labor Employment Training and Administration budget is a hint that the administration intends to propose a user fee on employers who are seeking to hire foreign nationals through labor certification programs.  The budget makes no distinction between permanent and temporary labor certifications, leaving the impression that the fee will be imposed for both services. 

The amount of the fee would be 00, and money thus generated would be used in two areas.  First, .6 million would be used to administer the labor certification programs.  Second, 5.1 million would be used to fund Skill Shortage Grants, which would be used to provide retraining and job placement services specially targeted at industries that are experiencing worker shortages. 

This may be the first step in the long promised changes in the labor certification process.  For sometime the Department of Labor has said that it will begin to accept employer attestations about the unavailability of US workers rather than requiring employers to perform a supervised advertising procedure.  Currently this change is due to take effect in October 2000, and will make labor certifications a much easier process.