Corrupt California employers: the cost of your labor is about to go up

The L.A. Times article "State Helps Domestic Workers Who Are Fighting for Fair Pay" describes how:

[Domestic workers] and their advocates are confronting employers, forming collectives and pushing for legislation to guarantee more rights. They also are filing wage claims with the labor commissioner's office, part of the state Department of Industrial Relations, which is responsible for enforcing labor laws.

And, as the Dog Trainer informs us, we're discussing illegal aliens here:

Nannies, housecleaners and caretakers work in a largely unregulated industry, usually without contracts, timecards or any other detailed records. There are pluses for both sides: Employers can generally count on employees' flexibility and willingness to work cheaply, and employees readily find work even if they don't have immigration documents. Frequently, neither side pays taxes.

But the deal can go sour. Because the arrangements are unofficial, labor violations are common, according to employees, their advocates and academics. Workers have few protections and often are hard-pressed to prove they were wronged.

Such a wonderful deal for (almost) all concerned, it's so terrible that it might go sour. Of course, it's not such a good deal for society as a whole, but, at least those in the same weight class as L.A. Times editors get nice, compliant maids and nannies.

But, the bottom line is that moves like those described in the article will end up driving the cost of employing illegal aliens up. Now, corrupt employers might counter that by bringing in new illegals from Mexico, or even illegals from, say, Yemen. But, eventually they'll wake up too. (Before that happens, the L.A. Times will be there to support our newcomers from the Arab Emirates).

The article has a few more stomach-churning bits, including a mention of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (my coverage of their links to the City of L.A.) and CA state Assemblywoman Cindy Montanez.

Immigration2005b · Tue, 09/13/2005 - 09:09 · Importance: 1