Trusted Recruiter Alliance

Why it exists

Legal compliance is the floor, not the goal.

The U.S. seasonal labor programs for agricultural and non-agricultural jobs are among the most regulated in the world. That high legal floor is where the Alliance starts.

The gap between the legal minimum and responsible practice is where risk builds for workers, employers, and recruiters. The Alliance exists to close it, with standards that can travel to other programs over time.

Obligations follow controlYou answer for what you can influence.
Good faith over guaranteesReasonable procedures and real effort.
Practical over perfectAchievable for organizations of any size.
Workers as partnersReturning workers are an advantage.
Industry accountabilitySelf-governance before outside regulation.

Three roles

Each organization is measured by the role it plays.

A recruiter abroad can't inspect U.S. housing, and an employer can't oversee recruitment abroad. So each standard goes to the role that controls it.

Recruiter

Finds, informs, and prepares workers in their home country. Handles due diligence, accurate disclosure, and complaint referral.

Employer

Hosts, houses, pays, and directs workers at the worksite. Holds legal responsibility for employment conditions.

Filing Agent

Prepares and submits petitions for employers. Responsible for accurate filings and sound records.

Doing more than one? Declare every role you perform and take on each set of obligations. Technology and service providers can join as Supporting Participants.

The standards

Nine standards, assigned by role.

Standard	Recruiter	Employer	Filing Agent
Legal complianceThe law is the starting point.
Fee and cost transparencyNo fees for jobs. Allowed costs disclosed up front.
Informed consentAccurate terms, in the worker's language, before travel.
Zero forced laborNo coercion, debt bondage, or document retention.
Responsible recruitmentVet partners, train recruiters, act on concerns.
Fair pay and conditionsWhat was promised is what's delivered.
Housing and transportationSafe, lawful, and as described.
Worker voiceConcerns are heard, handled, and never punished.
Records and dataOrganized records, protected worker data.

A clear line

Recruiters disclose and refer. Employers run the worksite.

Recruiters

Vet employers and partners
Disclose job terms accurately and early
Investigate recruitment complaints
Refer worksite complaints to the employer or authorities

Employers

Provide safe housing and transport, as described
Pay correctly and on time
Resolve workplace complaints
Comply with worksite law

Membership

A path any organization can follow.

Declare your roles
Name the roles you perform. Your obligations follow.
Self-certify
Complete a self-assessment and certify in good faith.
Peer review
A fellow member with no conflict reviews your procedures.
Keep improving
Build capability and assurance over time.

Why join

A responsibility, and an advantage.

Recognition

Certified Member sealShow employers, workers, and partners where you stand.
Public listingStand apart from unaccountable operators.

Market advantage

Employer preferenceLower risk for the businesses you serve.
Buyer confidenceCredentials retailers increasingly ask for.

Shared tools

Templates and trainingLower the cost of doing it right.
A voice in the standardHelp shape what comes next.

Founding members

Built by the organizations that do this work every season.

LabormexRecruitment and placementlabormex.com másLaborH-2A and H-2B servicesmaslabor.com WAFLAWorker and Farmer Labor Associationwafla.org CIERTOEthical recruitment and trainingciertoglobal.org Western GrowersFamily farmers of the Westwga.com

Founding leadership

Lydia Hock

Founder and CEO, Labormex

A dual U.S. and Mexican citizen, Lydia founded Labormex in 2004 to bridge the labor gap between the two countries. Labormex connects U.S. employers with qualified Mexican workers through the H-2 programs, placing about 30,000 workers a year with a commitment to legal, fair, and transparent practice.

Joe Martinez

Executive Director and Co-Founder, CIERTO

Joe co-founded CIERTO, a non-profit that recruits and trains workers from Mexico, Honduras, and Guatemala for employers in the U.S., Canada, and Spain. Its verification model protects workers from fraud, trafficking, and forced labor, and protects employers from bad recruitment. Joe works closely with NGOs and governments across North America.

Enrique Gastelum

CEO, WAFLA

Enrique leads the Worker and Farmer Labor Association, championing labor-intensive agriculture across the Pacific Northwest. He grew up in a farmworker family, served as a government labor law regulator, and was CFO of the Washington Farm Bureau. He holds a B.S. in zoology and an MBA.

Tom Bortnyk

SVP and General Counsel, másLabor

Tom is a nationally recognized expert on H-2 filing and regulatory compliance at másLabor, the nation's largest H-2A and H-2B provider. He also oversees its green card and professional visa services and its expansion into the EU. He holds a B.S. from Florida State and a J.D. from Washington and Lee.

The framework

Read the full standard.

Version 2.0, revised after review by recruiters, employers, attorneys, and compliance professionals.

Download PDF

Join the Alliance

Help set the standard.

Open to recruiters, employers, filing agents, and supporting organizations. Tell us your roles and we'll send next steps.

info@trustedrecruiteralliance.org

Email the Alliance

Responsibility that follows control.