H-2A workers and their employers may soon be exempted from paying unemployment taxes in Pennsylvania.
A bill to end the unemployment tax on guest workers was moved out of the state House Committee on Agriculture and Rural Affairs Wednesday.
While farm workers on H-2A visas cannot collect unemployment benefits and their wages are exempt from federal unemployment tax, Pennsylvania still requires both farmers and H-2A workers to pay state unemployment tax.
Rep. Christina Sappey, D-Chester, sponsored the bill.
“This policy costs our ag operations thousands of dollars and reduces workers’ paychecks,” Sappey said during a hearing Wednesday.
Rep. Stephanie Borowicz, R-Clinton, was one of three members, all Republican, to vote against the bill.
“I totally understand the intent of the bill and not paying unemployment compensation, but I just feel like this bill is very poorly written,” Borowicz said.
Borowicz was also the only member of the committee to vote against House Bill 587, also moved out of the committee Wednesday, which bill would establish a certification requirement for haulers and brokers of food processing residuals.
Both bills will be considered by the full House of Representatives.
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