Posted Aug 30, 2011, 7:25 am
WASHINGTON – Migrant laborers in this country will be able to get information on workers compensation, wage-and-hour laws and other U.S. labor protections “no matter how you got here,” under an agreement signed Monday.
The deal signed at the Labor Department adds Costa Rica, El Salvador and the Dominican Republic to the U.S. and three other Latin American countries that have agreed to look out for the rights of migrant workers.
As part of the agreement, those countries, along with Mexico, Guatemala and Nicaragua, will distribute information from their consulates here about regulations from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and other U.S. labor agencies.
“No matter how you got here or how long you plan to stay, you have certain rights,” U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis said at Monday’s signing ceremony. “You have a right to a safe and healthy workplace and the right to a legal wage.”
Solis said the Labor Department will not share with other agencies the details of workers who seek information.
“What we’re trying to avoid is that these vulnerable communities be abused, and that there be an increase in more underground economic activity that goes untaxed,” she said.
Supporters of the agreement said it does not encourage companies to hire undocumented workers in the “economy of shadows,” but does the exact opposite. Informing migrant workers of the law can prevent companies from easily exploiting them, said Arturo Sarukhan, the Mexican ambassador to the U.S.
“I don’t believe that increased labor-standard enforcement will drive employers and employees to the informal economy,” he said at the signing event. “To the contrary, with effective labor enforcement, we can push back against the economy of shadows.”
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Undocumented workers are already owed legal wages for work performed here, even if they are deported, said Terri Cruz, a social service counselor for Chicanos por la Causa Inc. in Phoenix.
She said the Labor Department has worked with her organization to help migrants receive wages in cases when they were deported or otherwise removed from the U.S. before being paid.
Monday’s agreement will likely have little impact on Southwest agriculture because large buyers will not purchase from farms using illegal practices, said Lance Jungmeyer, president of Fresh Produce Association of the Americas. The group represents Mexican produce exporters.
“The buyers, the Safeways and the Wal-Marts of the world, they’re looking at labor standards,” he said. “There really is no reason to break the rules because you’ll get effectively shut out of the marketplace.”
TucsonSentinel.com's original reporting and curation of border and immigration news is generously supported in part by a grant from the Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation.
3 comments on this story
Taking money from taxpayers to support foreigners is downright treasonous and must stop. Giving out $113 Billion a year in entitlements to foreign nationals to pacify the open borders set and the Leftist extremist minority is a disgusting situation must end. That’s why millions of Americans tormented by this financial, moral and legal evidence are joining the conservative TEA PARTY. Under scrutiny are the executive directives Of Eric Holder, so is there another move of Obama’s Liberal soldiers to covertly pass another damaging amnesty as in 1986, the TEA PARTY will be ready to scream “impeachment.” The Tea Party is not growing by the hundreds, but millions and expected to vote into the political arena, even more moderate conservative leaders.
Under the TEA PARTY agenda there will be no Amnesties, Sanctuary cities or States, no Dream Acts and no policies that rescind the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control bill. The TEA PARTY will instruct Congress, to mandate E-Verify for inveterate business owners and (S-Comm) Secure Communities to fingerprint and forward to ICE. The TEA PARTY will rescind a law that allows all illegal immigrants benefits and welfare payments. Parents of instant citizenship children will still be deported, so they will either take the baby with them or allow another legal relative to look after them. IF YOU’RE AGAINST ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION, THE ONLY CHANCE TO STOP IT IS THE TEA PARTY. Learn more about the illegal alien free give-away’s, at “NumbersUSA.” Observe more in Democratic and Liberal press concealment of odious criminal cases across the United States at “American Patrol.” Then “Judicial Watch” website is a legally Conservative site that Promotes Integrity, Transparency and Accountability in Government, Politics and the Law, and exposes corruption in Washington. Learn who can be trusted and who cannot in Congress at “Judicial Watch.” Just type in any browser Search engine any of these pro-sovereignty websites.
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REMEMBER ILLEGAL ALIENS DO VOTE IN “CITIZEN ONLY” ELECTIONS! THIS IS A VIOLATION OF ELECTION LAWS? PEOPLE CALL YOUR SENATE AND HOUSE CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS TO MAKE IT MANDATORY TO SHOW OFFICIAL IDENTIFICATION AND CROSS CHECK IT FOR FRAUD.
“No matter how you got here or how long you plan to stay, you have certain rights,” Solis said. “You have the right to be safe and in a healthy workplace and the right to a legal wage. We gather here today to strengthen our shared commitment to protect the labor rights of migrant workers in the United States. Unfortunately, due to language barriers and immigration status, migrant workers can be those that are most vulnerable abused.”
Illegal Immigration is a spreading contagion, that must be diminished and eventually end as a trickle. In today’s NumbersUSA, Eurofresh Inc., the nation’s largest grower of greenhouse tomatoes, last week pleaded guilty to knowingly hiring illegal aliens and was fined $600,000. The Arizona-based company will remain on probation for five years. $ 600.000 is a worthy fine for stealing jobs from Americans, but somebody should go to prison. AS I HAVE CONTINUALLY REPEATED, WHY ISN’T ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION A FELONY AS IN OTHER COUNTRIES? THAT WAY WE COULD CONSTRUCT A JAIL SYSTEM LIKE MARICOPA COUNTY SHERIFFS JOE ARPAIO TENT CITY IN ARIZONA?
All illegal aliens should be removed from regular jails and prisons and placed in Arizona’s notorious Joseph M. Arpaio canvas city prison and it would change anybody’s mind in illegally coming here. Joe’s tent city is an equally opportunity criminal incarceration compound, with high wire fences and attired with razor wire. Hundreds of thousands in jail for Drunken driving killers, child and female attacks, homicides and you name it; Let the Sheriff’s Joe’s cuisine, for ten years and temperatures reaching 120 degrees under canvas. Millions of illegal aliens from across the borders and tourist over-stay’s, would only be too happy to go home, after living on the daily sustenance of Bologna sandwiches. Arpaio makes the inmates wear pink undergarments and the usual critics have complained that it’s a cruel and unusual punishment, though no one can find a law against it. American society should build more of these tent cities for illegal immigrant invaders, in desert areas and make it uncomfortable to stay here. Then make Joe Arpaio as warden to enforce our laws.
Another Leftist Extremist Exposed
It’s time to expose hard -core leftist Labor Secretary Hilda Solis, who has taken it upon herself in contracting with foreign countries to pamper illegal aliens. This is outrageous and unconstitutional in signing some formal alliance with diplomats from a group of Latin American nations. Her intent to shelter of what Solis described as the labor rights, for both legal and illegal migrants working unlawfully in America. First President Obama signs into law an unauthorized fiat to preselect only heinous criminal aliens, but other illegal aliens are to be set free, with the possibility of a working visa. Then we have Solis, who interprets as the labor rights for both legal and illegal immigrants working in the U.S. Both Obama and Solis have ignored the US Constitution our “Rule of Law” and gone over the heads of Congress. In a signing ceremony between the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, and El Salvador and adjoining with Mexico, Nicaragua and Guatemala, who had signed this agreement in the past?
This newly revised agreement that U.S. Labor Secretary signed with Latin American nations is supposedly aimed at protecting both legal and illegal workers in this country, by educating employers and workers alike about health, safety, and wage laws. This women needs to get her head on straight, because she is scheming with the open border nuts, and foreign countries contravening against real American workers. Is this why Eric Holder, the Department of IN-Justice tearing at the financial throats of Arizona, Alabama and Georgia to attempt in lowering their defenses, creating pressure on struggling States. Its apparent intent to make other states think twice before employing their own policing laws, in saving these states from insolvency? Pay attention to the fact, if you came to America legally of any religious denomination—if you are Black, White, Hispanic or any other race and undertook the documentation to join our culture; have always been welcome.
This President and his officials are a humiliating every working American of all occupational levels. Solis promotes illegal immigration, which once the signal goes out will draw into America more foreigners, which taxpayers will be burdened with? We need a president who cares for the American people, the 14 million citizens and residents, with the majority still looking for work. The Labor Department on its website says the (INA.) The Immigration & Nationality Act only protects “U.S. citizens and aliens authorized to accept employment in the U.S. from discrimination in hiring or discharge.” Solis seems to have amended INA policy on her own, saying at the signing ceremony Solis stated: