Thread: Mexicans in Va. to get labor law assistance

Mexicans in Va. to get labor law assistance

necn.com
The Associated Press
Nov 4, 2011 2:24pm

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — Mexican citizens living in Virginia are being helped by an outreach program designed to inform them of their workplace rights.

The U.S. Department of Labor signed an agreement with an official from Mexico's Consulate General in Norfolk on Friday in an effort to curb labor law violations. About 160,000 Mexicans live in Virginia, although it is unclear how many of those are of working age or are employed. Federal labor laws also apply to workers regardless of immigration status.

"There is no distinction made whether the worker is in the country legally or illegally. We don't even ask that question. That's not part of our mission," said Bruce Clark, district director for the Labor Department's Richmond office.

Labor Department officials say Spanish-speaking workers are among the most likely to be taken advantage of by employers who fail to pay minimum wage or overtime because of communication problems or because they're unaware they're entitled to it.

"We suspect the Spanish-speaking workers are either not aware of that or they are afraid to confront their employer with that question, 'Aren't I entitled to that overtime?' Or they're afraid to come to some government agency and complain because they're afraid they're going to lose their job," Clark said.

Among other things, the two-year agreement calls for providing Mexican officials with educational materials that they can distribute and for U.S. officials to participate in forums affecting Mexican citizens. Mexican officials also agreed to verify birth dates of minors born in Mexico that are living in Virginia to determine if there are child labor law violations.

Clark said Labor Department officials no longer report illegal immigrants to immigration officials if they discover someone is in the country illegally. Clark said his agency has largely been unsuccessful in reaching out to the Hispanic community, which he hopes the new partnership will improve.

He also said that getting more Mexicans to come forward with labor law violations will help level the playing field for Virginia businesses that are already obeying labor laws.

"Now one employer who is trying to do the right thing, who is paying time and a half after 40 hours a week, will be able to compete evenly with the other employer who was paying their employee straight time for their hours over 40 a week," he said.

The agreement covering Mexican workers in Virginia is the 12th such agreement the Labor Department has signed.

http://www.necn.com/11/04/11/Mexicans-i ... 7527d7f712

Protecting them when they are working in agriculture might be a really good thing. Until more enterprises can transition out of a dependence on human labor we need to see that they don't fail, or move out of the country. OTOH, if they are taking jobs that Americans would do and don't have the learning and experience to know when they are being mistreated why should they be entitled to special services? These things should be equally available to all workers.

We are so accommodating.

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