New York Times (02/11/12) Julia Preston

The U.S. Department of Labor on Feb. 10 announced changes to its H-2B temporary worker program, which lets overseas workers into the U.S. when qualified Americans are unavailable. Under the new rules, DOL will create a nationwide electronic registry where employers must post all jobs they are seeking to fill with H-2B workers. Also, the recruitment period of Americans is expanded, requiring employers to hire any qualified local worker who applies up to three weeks before the start of an H-2B contract. Employers that use the program regularly say the new rules, which will take effect April 23, will make the process too slow and cumbersome for their seasonal businesses and will ultimately lead to the loss of American jobs.