FEWA is a nonprofit organization and was formed to provide help for employers and workers to come together to satisfy the great need for a diversified workplace and temporary seasonal labor in the United States. Further, FEWA provides for many educational programs to facilitate benefits for its members that would not be otherwise provided to employers and workers participating in the H-2A & H-2B programs. Among these programs is the Worker Relief Fund. FEWA’s Worker Relief Fund was formed to offer aid and funds to the families of worker-members who face tragedy while in the United States performing temporary labor. Specifically, events that might qualify for relief are of a serious nature (e.g. death, serious illness requiring transportation home).
The Worker Relief Fund (WRF) also assists worker-members in particular emergencies or mishaps that are not the result of any action or any fault of the worker. FEWA, at its discretion, will identify and assist eligible families and workers with financial distributions and/or emergency monies. Further, FEWA understands that each individual’s situation is different; therefore, each situation shall be reviewed on each individual basis. Generally, FEWA shall not distribute any monies for physical injuries.
The Worker Relief Fund (WRF) is governed by a three-person committee, which is convened by the President of FEWA as he sees fit. The three-person committee consists of one unrelated worker-member, one unrelated company member, and one unrelated member of FEWA’s Board of Directors. When a request for relief comes from a worker-member employed by a particular employer; the three-person committee shall not have anyone from that specific company involved.
The intent of the WRF is to aid the worker in distress and not to offer total relief. The WRF shall not pay more than half the total cost of any relief sought. In all cases, a receipt from the appropriate organization (that receives the monies) must be supplied to FEWA. FEWA shall not make any payment directly to a worker-member. Failure to supply the receipt excludes that particular worker-member and company member from further relief until such time as the receipt is received or funds returned.
Total relief available for any single incident shall be $2000.00.