Wagner-Peyser Act

Initial Intake

The majority of Migrant and Seasonal Farm Workers (MSFWs) are not reached through normal office intake activities.  Michigan is committed to providing equitable services to the MSFW population and attempts to reach as many MSFWs as possible during the peak farming season.  MSFW outreach workers are dedicated to working with MSFWs and spend most of their time conducting outreach in order to contact those who otherwise would not utilize the employment and career services available at the Michigan Works! Service Centers. 

When the MSFW outreach workers contact an MSFW, they explain all the services available at the Michigan Works! Service Centers which include employment counseling, testing, career guidance and referrals to employment, training, and supportive services.  The MSFW is also provided an oral summary of the Employment Service Complaint System and farm worker rights, with respect to the terms and conditions of employment, and employment related laws. 

The MSFW outreach workers provide MSFWs with a packet of printed materials that is explained and distributed during outreach meetings.  Each packet contains the following printed materials: 

• Listing of all MSFW outreach workers with contact information; 
• Listing of One-Stop services; 
• “Notice to Applicants,” which is a bilingual pamphlet that informs MSFWs of all employment services, including Pure Michigan Talent Connect website mitalent.org (Michigan’s online labor exchange system); 
• Tip Sheet which provides instructions on how to navigate the Pure Michigan Talent Connect website to search for available jobs; (available in Spanish) 
• Migrant Resource Council Brochure; 
• Yearly Calendar (if available) – it was a joint project by Farmworker Legal Services and Michigan Immigrant Rights Center; and 
• Farm Worker Legal Services calendar (if available); and 
• United States Department of Labor Farm Worker Rights Card.

When the explanation has been completed, the MSFWs are encouraged to visit the local Michigan Works! Service Center to receive the full range of services.  However, if the MSFWs are unable or unwilling to visit a service center, MSFW outreach workers provide as much service as possible while on site.  The following services can be provided in the field: 

• Resume assistance; 
• Registration for work; 
• Referral to specific employment opportunities currently available or job development services; 
• Recommendation of employment opportunities available after the current employment ends; 
• Assistance to prepare Employment Service or non-Employment Service related complaints; 
• Referral to supportive services; and 
• When necessary, make appointments and arrange transportation to and from the
  One- Stop, or other locations where integrated workforce development services are provided.

On-site services are made possible as a result of mobile equipment provided to MSFW outreach workers which includes a state issued vehicle, a smartphone with hotspot capabilities and wireless laptop or tablet.  This technology allows for immediate and easy access to documents and websites including current job postings and applications for employment, approved migrant housing inspection lists, registrations, and access to supportive services.  This technology also provides for quicker response times to sensitive documents, such as complaints and apparent violations.  Outreach workers telecommute and are equipped with all necessary/essential work tools to locate MSFWs at their living, working, and gathering places. 

Other on-site services include providing instruction on the utilization of the Pure Michigan Talent Connect system to encourage MSFWs to independently investigate employment opportunities.  Distribution of flyers at restaurants, stores, and at Spanish and English media outlets such as radio stations and newspapers, promote the MSFW Outreach Program and announce related events reaching an even broader audience than possible with face-to-face outreach. 

The Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity will employ 20 merit based full-time MSFW outreach workers (9 Permanent, 11 Seasonal) with the working title of Migrant Service Worker to provide services under the Migrant and Seasonal Farm Worker Outreach Program.  In addition, the 20 MSFW outreach workers will be divided into two teams and will have a working supervisor assigned for each team.  MSFW outreach workers have been assigned to areas based upon a centralized methodology which allows for the most efficient approach to provide outreach.  

When MSFWs account for ten percent or more of the annual applicants, offices are designated as significant offices.  The assignment of an MSFW outreach worker is not a reliable indicator of whether a local office has been deemed significant.  

Whether or not a MSFW outreach worker has a home office in a designated significant office or another location, MSFW outreach workers will still provide vigorous outreach in the areas covered by a significant office.  All Michigan Works! One-Stop centers have a mandate to provide services that are equitable, or in other words, of the same quantity and quality as those services provided to non-MSFWs.  This includes services provided in a language readily understood by the MSFW. 

Table 6 below displays the data used to determine significant offices.  The data was obtained from the One-Stop Management Information System (OSMIS) and represents the three prior program years beginning July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2019.

Table 7 below indicates the office by city, county location of the Michigan Works! Agency(s), Planning Region(s) covered, and the counties the MSFW outreach worker will cover.  This table specifies the outreach staff positions, the respective home office location, and the offices that are designated as significant.  Seasonal staff will be employed Mid-March through Mid-November which is identified as peak period for MSFW activity in the state.

Note:  It may appear that certain staff are assigned a very heavy workload.  Please be aware that there is not a significant use of migrant and seasonal farm workers for agricultural labor in Regions 1, 3, 7 and 10.  Michigan’s reasoning for including all areas of the state is twofold, 1) to show we have a plan to cover the entire state if needed and 2) Michigan will be able to respond quickly if agricultural labor needs change. 

Agricultural Employer Outreach

The MSFW outreach workers, in partnership with Michigan State University - Extension Services, conducts presentations at various grower shows and local Migrant Resource Council (MRC) meetings to explain services provided to migrant and seasonal farm workers.  The State Monitor Advocate presents at various meetings to explain the employment service complaint system and the Agricultural Recruitment System (ARS).  The purpose in attending these events is to provide an opportunity to reach out and connect with employers by providing valuable information which includes topics related to the labor force, camp and housing requirements, the I-9 process, locating labor via the Pure Michigan Talent Connect and the other services available through the Michigan Works! Service Centers. 

An emphasis continues to be placed on conducting outreach visits to employers during the non- peak season in order to build strong and trusting relationships.  By having strong relationships, employers are more apt to contact and rely on the MSFW outreach workers for referrals to not only the hand harvesting jobs, but also to other higher-paying, higher skilled positions.  Some outreach strategies include contacting employers during the off-season to discuss opportunities for developing new jobs that will provide an MSFW with On-the-Job Training (OJT) and/or apprenticeships to increase skills and ultimately increase employment opportunities through coordination with Michigan Works! Business Services Professionals and/or National Farmworker Jobs Program (NFJP) partners.  MSFWs have recently been hired as truck drivers, forklift operators and supervisors through the increased efforts and coordination with local One-Stop centers. 

The MSFW outreach workers provide employers with a packet of printed materials that is explained and distributed during outreach meetings.  Each packet contains the following printed materials: 

• Listing of all MSFW outreach workers with contact information. 
• Listing of One-Stop services available to employers.
•  Farm Labor Law posters and information pertaining to work hours, wages, and employment of minors.  
• Agricultural Recruitment System (ARS) Brochure.

As previously indicated in the assessment of needs, one of the needs for MSFWs is English Language Proficiency.  This is also a need for employers to be able to communicate with MSFWs.  Some best practices have been identified within the state that are being shared in other regions to facilitate increased collaboration between employers and English as a Second Language (ESL) service providers to ensure MSFWs are provided the opportunity to participate in such training, and in some cases for employers to be the host location for the training program.