The U.S. Department of Labor has announced a rule change to the H-2A guestworker program intended to increase wages and provide job safety protections for both U.S. and foreign workers.

"This new rule will make it possible for all workers who are working hard on American soil to receive fair pay while at the same time expand opportunities for U.S. workers," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "The actions that we have taken through this rule making also will enable us to detect and remedy different forms of worker violations."

The rule change, announced Thursday, will force growers to make more of an effort to find domestic workers to fill temporary or seasonal jobs picking crops, as well as increase wages and provide more job-safety protections for the thousands of foreign farmworkers who are hired. (please click link for full story)