EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION
ADVISORY SYSTEM
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Washington, D. C. 20210 		CLASSIFICATION

Prevailing Wage Survey
CORRESPONDENCE SYMBOL

OWS
ISSUE DATE

June 26, 2001
RESCISSIONS

None

 EXPIRATION DATE

June 30, 2002

ADVISORY : FIELD MEMORANDUM NO. 22-01
 
TO : ALL REGIONAL ADMINISTRATORS
 
FROM : Wendy L. McConnell for
LENITA JACOBS-SIMMONS
Deputy Assistant Secretary
 
SUBJECT : ETA Handbook No. 385, Domestic Agricultural In-Season Wage Finding Process

 

  1. Purpose. To provide Regional Offices with policy clarification and procedural guidance in the use of ETA Handbook 385.

  2. Reference. 20 CFR 653.501, 20 CFR 655.102 and ETA Handbook No. 385.

  3. Background. The purpose of the Domestic In-Season Agricultural Prevailing Wage Survey is to determine prevailing agricultural wage rates for specific crop activities in specific areas of a State. The prevailing wage surveys are conducted by the State Employment Security Agencies (SESAs) on an annual and ad hoc basis. ETA Handbook 385 instructs the SESAs to survey only seasonal domestic workers engaged in the same crop and activity or those similarly employed.

  4. Clarification. It has been brought to our attention that in some instances the survey data on the 232 forms reflect wages paid to seasonal and permanent domestic workers at peak employment periods. The Domestic In-Season Agricultural Report should reflect only those wages paid to seasonal domestic workers engaged in the same crop activity. ETA Handbook 385 refers only to seasonal domestic workers who were employed in the crop activity covered in the survey.

  5. Action Required. Regional Offices must ensure that SESAs are conducting surveys in accordance with ETA Handbook 385. When conducting these surveys, SESAs should only include wages paid to seasonal domestic workers.

  6. Inquiries. Questions regarding this Field Memorandum should be directed to Ben Orona or Charlene Giles at (202) 693-3010.