WBZ's New England Business

Time is short for Cape businesses to get seasonal workers

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Play from 1:15[1:15] ..." program the extension for the returning in the current workers. To the United States as a bargaining chip to get total comprehensive immigration reform we're not trying to break any new ground you were simply trying to expand the guest worker provision that has expired that has been in place in previous years. There employees that are been coming to the same jobs on Cape Cod for five or seven or ten or twelve years. In businesses get accustomed to their return intimate part of there. There -- operation and this year despite the fact that many of them have housing and have cars and concessions here in the United States because they compact every year for nine months and seasonal basis and return home. This year they're not being allowed to come"...

Play from 3:21[3:21] ..." economic issue not an immigration issue we don't propose to. Make total immigration reform during you know the presidential election here because I don't think congresses had in mind to do that. But in the process we're seeing significant hardship on the"...

Play from 0:00[0:00]" Now I understand that you went down to Washington with a contingent. We did last week we went down with a contingent of about two eleven of the people and that we had so this series of meetings with. Congressman Delahunt a staff of Senator Kennedy and several other congress people who work intimately involved with this problem PH two B visas. Now I understand that there's -- shortage of these visas which would lead to a worker shortage of okay."

Play from 0:24[0:24]" Well there's there's a shortage the -- national cap on the number of H two B visas that are administered and throughout the whole country every year that campus 66000. Unfortunately that cap was in -- Before our employers were able to to make applications for the basis. So what we're asking for is not anything new and not anything new policy or knew who will pull. In not a new -- but we're only trying to stand the provisions under the H two people a visa program allowing returning foreign workers to come into the country for seasonal jobs."

Play from 1:00[1:00]" And what is the reaction been in Washington is that."

Play from 1:02[1:02]" Well unfortunately this the Hispanic caucus which has caucus a group of accomplished people in the House of Representatives particularly is concerned about making are using the H two B visa program the extension for the returning in the current workers. To the United States as a bargaining chip to get total comprehensive immigration reform we're not trying to break any new ground you were simply trying to expand the guest worker provision that has expired that has been in place in previous years. There employees that are been coming to the same jobs on Cape Cod for five or seven or ten or twelve years. In businesses get accustomed to their return intimate part of there. There -- operation and this year despite the fact that many of them have housing and have cars and concessions here in the United States because they compact every year for nine months and seasonal basis and return home. This year they're not being allowed to come back into the country."

Play from 1:58[1:58]" And the a window of opportunity if you will for congress is pretty --"

Play from 2:01[2:01]" Well it is because congress is in recess now and they won't be back until just about the end of the month. And if -- and before they recess again in March they really need to take effect because we need to have time enough to process the applications. Of these returning workers if they're going to be in place before they get to the go to work here in the on the cape silenced that process can be Lincoln because of the applications first has to go to. To the immigration service opened Vermont and then goes down to. To the embassy where there with a good workers working to Jamaica or bull -- report is. These be processed by the idea embassy and then. Get the necessary pieces in place for them to be here. So that would gonna narrow win that would -- if there was any good if they do this effective October 1 because she's come and gone and -- workers."

Play from 2:57[2:57]" I've also heard that some for owners some owners of eons of restaurants and the facilities are actually -- lane. Their opening because of the --"

Play from 3:06[3:06]" Well I think we're going to see the possibility of restaurants and landscaper. Cutting hours and services with the because of the threat of not having sufficient number of workers our position is that this is an economic issue not an immigration issue we don't propose to. Make total immigration reform during you know the presidential election here because I don't think congresses had in mind to do that. But in the process we're seeing significant hardship on the part of a lot of small businesses not just on the cape in the -- but along the east coast to in seasonal businesses were that they -- rappers in Maryland -- or other resort areas even been. In Michigan and and some of those sections of the country of their. Going to be hurting for for seasonal workers in the seasonal worker program. Is particularly harsh -- Cape Cod because we don't have a population of younger workers to step in and take the does -- take the place of those sport workers. There's you know we haven't. Older population generally on the -- and there's a -- to to a lot of these jobs to loosen the landscape and ops just in the hospitality and to some of the charter charter part of working -- that. You know physically demand. So there's a there's a lot of issues that we're dealing with and which is looking to get the expansion for those returning workers this year so that many small businesses can survive the --"

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[1:15]..." program the extension for the returning in the current workers. To the United States as a bargaining chip to get total comprehensive immigration reform we're not trying to break any new ground you were simply trying to expand the guest worker provision that has expired that has been in place in previous years. There employees that are been coming to the same jobs on Cape Cod for five or seven or ten or twelve years. In businesses get accustomed to their return intimate part of there. There -- operation and this year despite the fact that many of them have housing and have cars and concessions here in the United States because they compact every year for nine months and seasonal basis and return home. This year they're not being allowed to come "...

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