SAID B. SILWANY
President of CM Labor Consulting LLC.
Mr. Said Silwany, who has honorably retired from military service, boasts a notable tenure as an Investigator within the Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor, serving the South Florida region with distinction. Said has adeptly guided numerous employers through the complex landscape of federal and state labor regulations across various industries. His expertise spans the agricultural, hospitality, healthcare, leisure, public sector contracting, and tourism sectors. Notably, Said has a specialized focus on counseling H-2B provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and agricultural businesses engaged in the H-2A temporary agricultural workers program. He is also skilled in representing employers during investigations conducted by the Department of Labor.
At CM Labor Consulting, our mission is to ensure that your business navigates the complexities of federal labor regulations with ease. Our expert consulting services cover a comprehensive range of federal labor laws, including:
- Fair Labor Standards Act (minimum wage, overtime, and child labor laws)
- Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
- H-1B, H-2A, and H-2B provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA)
- Migrant and Seasonal Worker Protection Act (MSPA)
- Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA)
- Davis Bacon Act (DBA)
- Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act
- O’Hara Service Contract Act (SCA)
We’re dedicated to providing your business with the knowledge and tools necessary to maintain full compliance with these critical statutes. Employers can benefit significantly from the expertise of someone like Mr. Said Silwany, who has extensive experience with the U.S. Department of Labor. Here are some ways employers might benefit from his expertise:
Navigating Labor Laws: With his background, Mr. Silwany can help employers understand and navigate the complex federal and state labor regulations, ensuring compliance and avoiding potential legal issues.
Representation During Investigations: Having a former investigator on their side can be advantageous for employers if they are subject to a Department of Labor investigation. His experience can help in preparing for and responding to such investigations effectively.
Preventative Measures: Employers can leverage his knowledge to implement preventative measures that ensure compliance with labor laws, potentially saving them from costly penalties and fines.
Training and Development: Mr. Silwany can also offer training to staff and management on best practices for compliance, wage and hour laws, and how to handle Department of Labor investigations.
Strategic Planning: His insights into labor law enforcement trends can help employers in strategic planning and risk management.
Crisis Management: The presence of a specialist such as Mr. Silwany can be instrumental in navigating and resolving labor-related conflicts or challenges, ensuring effective crisis management.
Overall, Mr. Silwany’s experience and skills can be an asset for employers looking to ensure compliance with labor laws and navigate the complexities of employment practices. His guidance can help employers maintain a good standing with regulatory bodies and avoid the pitfalls that can come with labor law violations.
JESUS "JESSE" BETANCOURT
Senior Labor Consultant
Jesus (Jesse) Betancourt joins Canes Management Labor Consulting as a highly respected labor compliance expert with more than 30 years of distinguished service with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD). As a former Assistant Director, Jesse oversaw complex federal labor law investigations across multiple industries, supervised investigative teams, and played a key leadership role in enforcing some of the nation’s most critical worker‑protection laws.
During his federal career, Jesse directed and conducted investigations involving the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), H‑2A Temporary Agricultural Program, H‑2B Temporary Non‑Agricultural Program, Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act (MSPA), Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and other major labor statutes. His work included high‑impact cases involving wage violations, agricultural housing and transportation safety, child labor, overtime compliance, and large‑scale employer audits.
Jesse is widely recognized for his ability to negotiate compliance agreements, resolve complex legal issues, and guide employers through corrective actions that withstand federal scrutiny. He has led hundreds of settlement conferences, developed corrective action plans, and worked directly with attorneys, business owners, farm labor contractors, and corporate leadership to bring organizations into full compliance.
In addition to enforcement, Jesse has extensive experience in education and outreach, having delivered training programs to agricultural employers, human resources teams, industry associations, and community organizations. His training specialties include H‑2A and H‑2B program requirements, recordkeeping, wage practices, housing and transportation standards, and best practices for avoiding violations.
At Canes Management Labor Consulting, Jesse brings a practical, enforcement‑based perspective that helps employers understand not only what the law requires, but also how investigators think, what triggers an audit, and how to build systems that prevent violations before they occur. His approach emphasizes proactive compliance, risk reduction, and operational integrity.
Jesse’s decades of federal experience make him an invaluable resource for employers seeking to strengthen their compliance programs, prepare for audits, or navigate the complexities of agricultural and non‑agricultural labor regulations. His mission is to help businesses operate confidently, ethically, and in full alignment with federal labor standards.
PHILIP MCMANUS
Senior Labor Consultant
Philip is a labor compliance consultant and attorney with extensive experience supporting employers that rely on seasonal, temporary, and visa-based workforces. His work focuses on compliance with federal labor and employment requirements, including H-2A and H-2B visa programs, the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Davis-Bacon and Service Contract Act requirements, OSHA workplace safety standards, and related wage, hour, and recordkeeping obligations.
Philip’s background includes years of hands-on experience working with federal labor enforcement agencies and advising employers on regulatory expectations, audits, and investigations. A former United States Marine, he brings a disciplined, practical approach to compliance and risk management. Drawing on his experience as a labor and employment attorney, he helps employers identify risk, prepare for agency reviews, and maintain compliant seasonal operations.
Philip is licensed to practice law in Florida and is fluent in English and Spanish.
