Could Farms Survive Without Illegal Labor?

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

In housekeeping, nannys, construction, and manual labor (i.e. moving companies) illegals are hired because they work hard, not because they are cheaper. Someone looking to hire laborers knows what he is going to pay for a day's work. He does not care if it's a legal or illegal. He wants someone who will work hard and do a good job. If the job is done well, he will employ that same laborer day after day. It has nothing to do with an illegal doing it for cheaper. He was going to pay someone $100/cash for a 12 hour day of work anyhow. Illegal or legal makes no difference to him. Quality of work is what makes the difference.

In housekeeping and nanny's how can you do a background check if they are illegal? IMO anyone who hire's either without one is endangering their safety.

Illegal construction workers are not licensed and bonded and endanger general safety. You hire an illegal day laborer and they are injured on your job site....you are completely screwed!

Things to think about.

Edited August 22, 2011 by Sousuke

[Ready to do it 101]

I don't understand your post. Please point out the generalization. Maybe I missed it. I just don't see it.

Man, I love generalizations! In the other thread, it was put forth that illegals were more family minded, too.

[Fandango 1,439]

In housekeeping and nanny's how can you do a background check if they are illegal? IMO anyone who hire's either without one is endangering their safety.

Illegal construction workers are not licensed and bonded and endanger general safety. You hire an illegal day laborer and they are injured on your job site....you are completely screwed!

Things to think about.

Apostrophe abuse aside, I agree with everything you've said here.

[웃 910]

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"You ain't going to find a Mexican more proud to be an American," said Zamora, a legal U.S. resident, on a recent summer morning. "This is a beautiful country."

The truth is, though, Zamora doesn't hire Americans. Farm labor contractors and most other employers in the valley's multibillion-dollar agriculture industry rely almost exclusively on immigrants — mostly illegal immigrants.

Employers hire them as long as they have a forged Social Security card and a green card, which can be bought for less than $100 through a vast underground industry of fake- document vendors in the Central Valley.

The system works well for farmers and farmworkers — as well as many restaurants, hotels and construction companies.

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February 23, 2009

DMV and ICE dismantle major Bakersfield counterfeit document ring

seizure of a large cache of counterfeit document manufacturing equipment, such as computers, laminators, government seals and card stock, as well as nearly $13,000 in cash. The searches were conducted at two apartments and one residence allegedly used by the defendants to produce the documents. Those documents included counterfeit false Social Security cards, driver's licenses, and Resident Alien cards, commonly known as "green cards."

http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-147407.html

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[Usui Takumi 1,562]

Apostrophe abuse aside, I agree with everything you've said here.

lol It is lazy sunday.

Corrected:

In housekeeping and nanny work, how can you do a background check if they are illegal? IMO anyone who hires either without a background check is endangering their safety.

Illegal construction workers are not licensed and bonded and endanger general safety. You hire an illegal day laborer and they are injured on your job site....you are completely screwed!

Things to think about.

[Fandango 1,439]

I don't understand your post. Please point out the generalization. Maybe I missed it. I just don't see it.

And you won't.

lol It is lazy sunday.

Corrected:

In housekeeping and nanny work, how can you do a background check if they are illegal? IMO anyone who hires either without a background check is endangering their safety.

Illegal construction workers are not licensed and bonded and endanger general safety. You hire an illegal day laborer and they are injured on your job site....you are completely screwed!

Things to think about.

Bravo!

I forgot to add a to end my last post. Just bustin chops hehehe

[Ready to do it 101]

I agree with this to some extent.

In housekeeping and nannys... no background checks are done. But, look at it this way. If you live in a million dollar house and your next door neighbor lives in a million dollar house and you've employed a maid for 5 years and that maid is the best thing in the world for your kids. You know it, your neighbor knows it, the whole block knows it. When it comes time for a neighbor to hire a maid are they going to hire the maid of the nextdoor neighbor that has been raving about how awesome she is for 5 years, or does that neighbor just want some random person who they can get a background check on?

Regarding construction... I agree with your point completely. However, I have seen situations where a worker is hurt on the job and the contractor using the illegal took them to the hospital, paid all their bills etc. I'm sure there is a lot of abuse out there as well. I.e. Perhaps a not so nice contractor who basically says "You're SOL." I don't know what an illegal would do in that situation. Probably nothing as he probably fears there is nothing he can do because of his legal status. This is why I stated that I am thrilled with the new idea of authorizing work permits. It will probably make it so illegals then have the ability to speak up if they are hurt on the job.

In housekeeping and nanny's how can you do a background check if they are illegal? IMO anyone who hire's either without one is endangering their safety.

Illegal construction workers are not licensed and bonded and endanger general safety. You hire an illegal day laborer and they are injured on your job site....you are completely screwed!

Things to think about.

[Ready to do it 101]

I think it is very honorable that people both in politics and even on this thread look at the aspect that illegals are exploited. But, the truth is I just don't see it. I mean, I have met hundreds upon hundreds of illegals over the last 20 years and no one seems to feel like they are exploited in any way. Sure, it sucks that they can't go get "other" types of jobs, but the majority of them... my ex-wife included are happy and content on what they do. I mean, she got her permanent resident card 15 years ago and just recently got her citizenship and she has no interest in doing any other job other than clean houses, take care of houses, walk dogs, and be a nanny. She has the ability to do anything she wants in life, and she chooses to continue to do the same thing she has done for the last 25 years. If she was exploited in any way would she keep doing it? She is involved in a lot of different latina groups and I have gone to many many parties and functions with her over the years (yes I was typically one of the few white folks there). Over all those years, I never heard of anyone feeling like they were exploited. Granted, most of these people live in $500k+ houses as latinos are extremely good at saving money, many purchased homes in the early 90s, sold them for twice if not triple the amount in the early 2000s and now live in really nice homes. Sure, some of that was luck based on real estate going up so fast, but illegals exploited? I hear about it on sites like this, politicians talk about it, but quite frankly I've just never heard those words ever come out of the mouth of any illegal that I know.

So it's honorable that folks want to use that in an argument...I.e. "Employers are exploiting illegals!!" But I've never seen it firsthand and quite frankly perhaps it does occur in many occupations... but in housekeeping, nannys, day laborers, etc how could it happen? If the worker doesn't like his employer than he/she does not come back the next day. There are a lot of arguments that I would agree with that are reasons illegals should get these work authorizations, etc... but I do not think exploitation is one of those reasons.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

You ask the housekeeper for her legal status and social security card before hiring her?

I was always under the assumption that having a social security number was a requirement for work here in the USA.

Edited August 22, 2011 by Why_Me

[웃 910]

I was always under the assumption that having a social security number was a requirement for work here in the USA.

I've hired many people from landscapers, painters, housekeepers, handymen, auto repair work, etc.

All different ethnicities.

It's never once crossed my mind to ask for legal status and a copy of their drivers license and social security card.

My current housekeepers are from the RUB region I am pretty sure...I have no idea if they are legal or not. They barely speak English.