A  website for certain visa certification announced by Occupational Safety and Health Administration is intended to ensure the safety of vulnerable workers, an OSHA official said in a news release.

Launch of the website for U nonimmigrant visas, or "U visas," and T nonimmigrant visas, or "T visas,"  was announced in an OSHA news release issued March 30. U visas provide legal status to victims of qualifying criminal activities while T provide legal status to certain victims of human trafficking, according to information on the U.S. Department of Labor's website. 

"The Occupational Safety and Health Administration's top priority is to ensure workers are safe and can exercise their rights, regardless of their demographic or immigration status," OSHA assistant secretary Doug Parker said in the news release. "A key part of that mission is expanding our work to combat workplace inequities that can create hazards and affect vulnerable workers who are likely to be exploited or victims of crimes."

The announcement followed a meeting hosted by Parker with workers, advocates and worker organization leaders to discuss the agency's new authority to issue certifications in support of applications for U visas and T visas.

Workers often fear retaliation when they speak up about unsafe working conditions, especially when they don't have citizenship status or legal employment authorization, or if they their work visa ties them to a specific employer. U Visas and T Visas allow crime victims help law enforcement detect, investigate and prosecute crimes without fear of retaliation based on their immigration status.

The new website lines up with the U.S. Department of Labor's Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility plan and President Joe Biden's administration’s effort to support underserved communities and improve job quality nationwide. DOL's Wage and Hour Division has issued U and T visas for more than a decade and OSHA now may issued the visa certifications in the cases of qualifying criminal activities or trafficking.

Qualifying criminal activities include murder, extortion and involuntary servitude or even an attempt, solicitation or conspiracy to commit any of the identified qualifying criminal activities. 

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services determines whether an applicant qualifies for the visa.

"Our vision extends beyond setting standards, inspecting workplaces and providing training," Parker said in the news release. "Becoming a visa certifying agency gives us one more tool in our wide-ranging effort to better protect workers and their rights on the job."