Wagner-Peyser Act

Designated MSFW outreach staff are creative in seeking out opportunities to contact farmworkers who may not be reached through the normal intake activities conducted at the AJCs.

These farmworkers are targeted through different types of media outlets, such as the multitude of radio stations in the state with Spanish programming that regularly air public service announcements from the Idaho Department of Labor. These announcements provide notice of the services through the workforce development system and are used to inform and educate farmworkers and their families about services and protection available in the state of Idaho.

MSFW outreach staff also make direct appeals and other announcements of the radio. Special presentations are made to English as a Second Language groups, Hispanic high school students and other groups of farm workers to encourage use of the IdahoWorks system and the state’s One-Stop system services.

The Idaho Department of Labor prints bilingual brochures, posters and flyers for dissemination at and beyond the AJCs. One example is a bilingual flyer that outlines the state’s complaints process which provides MSFWs guidance on how to file a complaint or wage claim.

Staff assigned to outreach contact MSFWs at their work sites, labor camps, living areas, and other places frequented by the migrant and seasonal farmworkers. Outreach staff also attend community events on evenings and weekends where migrant and seasonal farmworkers are in attendance.

Outreach workers will encourage MSFWs to come in to the local AJC one-stop office for more in-depth assessment and to register for available services. For those who choose not to or cannot visit their local AJC, the outreach worker will provide on-site assistance for services that may be available, such as prepare and accept complaints or apparent violations, provide information on local labor markets and training opportunities or referral to other service providers.

In the past, several videos have been developed in both English and Spanish, which encourage farm workers to 1) participate in Spanish language job search workshops, and 2) utilize the job search capacities of the IdahoWorks system. During one summer, a local radio show announced the recruitment effort for the local AJC’s WIA Summer Youth Program which focused on out-of-school youth. As a result of this airing, this increased the influx of MSFW youth visiting the office. In fact, several older, out-of-school youth came through the AJC’s doors exclaiming that their parents had heard the radio show and strongly encouraged them to pay the AJC a visit to find out more about the programs.

The AJCs with outreach staff have permanent and/or temporary staff who are bilingual in Spanish to conduct outreach. During the area’s peak agricultural season, if resources permit, additional temporary bilingual staff will be used to support MSFW activities.