Posted by Tom @ Snake River on Tuesday, March 28, 2006 at 11:55PM :
In Reply to: Re: Illegals--OT or the only T ? posted by Nickathome on Tuesday, March 28, 2006 at 10:25PM :
It is easy to jump up and down on a soap box if you have not "been there, done that" in an industry that relys on foreign workers. I, in the past have hired illegal workers. I am sure that there is wage abuse in some areas, but we have always paid at least the going wage. That is why I am posting to let everyone know that there are employers here that are directly effected by the upcoming legislation. They try to make us responsible to determine eligibility, but we are not experts on telling a fake document from a real one. Yes, maybe there should be employer penalties, but hopefully in the legislation it will cut us some slack and give us a more workable program without so much bureauracy. I have sat in several meetings with Senator Craig getting the AgJobs admendment hammered out. A farmer in Canada told me that when foreign workers come in, ( his come from Jamaica "man") that they have to be willing to accept the minimum wage. In Idaho, it is $5.25. We are now paying guest workers $8.50. what is wrong here ???? The $8.50 is to entice US workers to do the work. THIS IS WORK THAT NO US WORKER WILL DO ALMOST AT ANY PRICE. I thank Joe to let us conduct this disscussion. Tom
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