Posted on 01/03/2017 8:27:44 AM PST by SeekAndFind
LOS ANGELES -- He had spent his latest 45-hour workweek hunched over a sewing machine, attaching labels and stitching collars and tightening black and gold blouses that would soon sell at bargain prices at a popular retailer. But now it was Saturday afternoon, paycheck time, when Pedro felt the full sting of that bargain: It was his own salary that helped keep the prices down for consumers.
His manager gathered the 30-some workers from their stations in the unmarked brick building and passed out payslips.
For the week, he said, he’d been paid $225. Or $5 per hour.
“There’s nothing to do but take it,” Pedro said in an interview earlier this month, recalling his workweek.
While immigrants often face criticism for stealing jobs, they are the ones being increasingly undercut in America’s clothing industry, forced to accept wages below the legal minimum as retailers fight to pass on bargain prices to consumers.
Federal regulators have uncovered a widespread practice of garment workers, most of them undocumented, being paid below the legal minimum wage, according to a recent Department of Labor report. Those findings were echoed in interviews with workers and workers activists here.
“It’s almost been a perfect storm for the garment industry,” said Ruben Rosalez, a regional administrator at the Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour division, based in San Francisco. “Not only do [the employers] have the pricing pressure, but they have a labor force that’s prone to being exploited. They’re using that, taking advantage of these workers.”
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
most of them undocumented, being paid below the legal minimum wage
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They are not undocumented, they are illegal aliens.
Just another reason why enforcement of immigration laws is needed.
Illegal aliens cannot be exploited by unscrupulous employers if they are not here.
Probably are immigrant owners taking advantage of illegal aliens.
I am at present overwhelmed with the many directional thought processes trying to prognosticate a Trump Presidency.
We still have the same problems, and I have absolute faith in Trump and his administration, but I just can't see how anything will shake out.
I kind'a want to be Rip Van Winkle and wake up after a couple of years
Well, this is exactly what your “Made in the USA” label means. Sorry for the widely believed illusion of middle class garment workers pulling their brand-new Chrysler mini-vans into the parking lots of gleaming factories in North Carolina, but that is a fantasy that Americans will never pay the retail price necessary to support. Do the work here, and this is what it will always look like.
Illegal aliens broke into my industry and forced the wages down to half of what they were In the late 90s. I figure they’ve stolen at least a million dollars in income off my family’s table over the last decade.
Which was which?
So, when he was offered the job did he think to ask how much was the pay? He could have turned it down and looked for something better.
Pedro, “immigrant”...gtfo. Yesterday.
Hey! He’s being paid cash, under the table, so that $225 is his take home pay. He pays no taxes or withholdings at all. He is probably getting all kinds of $$$ in various forms from the gubmint. So the $225 is actually what he sends back to Mexico each week.
Since I only read part of what was posted and never clicked on the link I was unsure what the status really was of the immigrants in the story. Though I highly suspected what the status was, I refrained from definitively stating the status for that reason. So I just referred to them as less fortunate. It was in no way an act out of political correctness. 8>)
“Federal regulators have uncovered a widespread practice of garment workers, most of them undocumented...” Which begs the question, “What do the feds DO with those illegals when they find them?”
Is there any mention or suggestion in the article of the solution that dare not be tried, enforcing existing laws? If I see a shirt that’s $10, I might buy it. I don’t agonize over whether it’s $10 because Pedro is underpaid.
No one forced them to come and no one is forcing them to stay.
Ironically, for the author, getting rid of the illegals is the solution to them being paid these low wages....
“There was a huge differential in work ethic between the north and the south.”
Which was which?
With the same piece rates, the same garments,and the same equipment, the garment manufacturing plants in NC, SC and GA could not make minimum wage when the northern factories would make double minimum wage.
They are probably being paid “piecemeal” which can be less than minimum wage or considerable more, depending on the type of .work performed.
This is the free market working
Wow. That was my 1st response, that this was Piecemeal.
No one makes you take and for some work, construction, it can pay incredibly well.
Thnx
You have 2 families...”Joe Legal” and “Jose Illegal”. Both families have 2parents, 2 children and live in California.
“Joe Legal” works in construction, has a Social Security Number, and makes $25.00 per hour with
payroll taxes deducted....”Jose Illegal” also works in construction, has “NO” Social Security Number, and gets paid $15.00 cash “under the table”.
Joe Legal...$25.00 per hour x 40 hours $1000.00 per week, $52,000 per year.
Now take 30% away for state federal tax, Joe Legal now has $31,231.00
Jose Illegal...$15.00 per hour x 40 hours $600.00 per week, $31,200.00 per year. Jose Illegal pays no taxes... Jose Illegal now has $31,200.00
Joe Legal pays Medical and Dental Insurance with limited coverage $1000.00 per month, $12,000.00 per year. Joe Legal now has $19,231.00
Jose Illegal has full Medical and Dental coverage through the state and local clinics at a cost of $0.00 per year. Jose Illegal still has $31,200.00
Joe Legal makes too much money is not eligible for Food Stamps or welfare. Joe Legal pays for food $1,000.00 per month, $12,000.00 per year. Joe Legal now has $7,231.00
Jose Illegal has no documented income and is eligible for Food Stamps and Welfare. Jose Illegal still has $31,200.00.
Joe Legal pays rent of $1,000.00 per month. $12,000.00 per year. Joe Legal is now in the hole minus (-) $4,769.00
Jose Illegal receives a $500 per month Federal rent subsidy. Jose Illegal pays rent. $500.00 per month. $6,000.00 per year Jose Illegal still has $31,200.00
Joe Legal now works overtime on Saturdays or gets a part time job after work.
Jose Illegal has nights and weekends off to enjoy with his family.
Joe Legal’s and Jose Illegal’s children both attend the same school. Joe Legal pays for his children’s lunches while Jose Illegal’s children get a government sponsored lunch. Jose Illegal’s children have an after school
ESL program. Joe Legal’s children go home.
Joe Legal and Jose Illegal both enjoy the same Police and Fire Services, but Joe paid for them and Jose did not pay.
He was probably told if produces (x) number of pieces at a certain quality (z) he would be paid (x-z=$02.50) or produce (x) number of pieces at another quality (y) and he would be paid (x+y=$5.00).
He produces more of the 1st formula, hence his pay reflects that quality of work, which is fine for the owner because he can sell the inferior products at outlets.
Jose, produces outlets quality materials. Doesn’t make them bad but, they are not the quality of standard and his pay reflects his workmanship..
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