Exploitation of illegal female immigrants in the agricultural industry in the US today
Exploitation of illegal female immigrants in American agriculture
Introduction
There is a major issue in the US regarding the employment of illegal or undocumented immigrants, most of whom are working in low-skilled jobs in sectors of the economy most Americans don’t want to fill. Reports estimate that 48% of persons employed in US farms and other work places within agriculture are undocumented. Of these, almost half a million are likely to be women. (Pew Hispanic Center, 2010)
These women are extremely vulnerable to exploitation in the work place – and the employer knows this. Without legal documentation to work, limited or no English language skills, ignorance regarding their rights and work laws, a family economically dependent on their income, debt or fear of repatriation, the likeliness of an exploited worker speaking up is slim.
The research question of this study is “How are illegal female immigrant workers exploited in the American agricultural business today, and why does it happen?” I will in this in-depth study immerse myself in how these women are being exploited – both in regards to wages and labor rights, and in terms of work environment and issues of abuse. Further on I will discuss theories as to why exploitation and abuse occurs more often to these women and in this business. Finally I will sum up and conclude my findings.
Main body
Wages and rights
The most common way illegal women in agriculture are exploited is by having to work very hard for an unfairly low salary. This is the case for most of the illegal work force. The fear of losing ones job, or even face deportation or violence, is usually enough to keep quiet. In addition, the chance of getting a higher salary is slim at best as the employer always can hire someone else, willing to do the job for the existing salary.
With the increase in mechanical industry and the higher average level of education amongst Americans, many of the country’s “dirty jobs” end up
Introduction
There is a major issue in the US regarding the employment of illegal or undocumented immigrants, most of whom are working in low-skilled jobs in sectors of the economy most Americans don’t want to fill. Reports estimate that 48% of persons employed in US farms and other work places within agriculture are undocumented. Of these, almost half a million are likely to be women. (Pew Hispanic Center, 2010)
These women are extremely vulnerable to exploitation in the work place – and the employer knows this. Without legal documentation to work, limited or no English language skills, ignorance regarding their rights and work laws, a family economically dependent on their income, debt or fear of repatriation, the likeliness of an exploited worker speaking up is slim.
The research question of this study is “How are illegal female immigrant workers exploited in the American agricultural business today, and why does it happen?” I will in this in-depth study immerse myself in how these women are being exploited – both in regards to wages and labor rights, and in terms of work environment and issues of abuse. Further on I will discuss theories as to why exploitation and abuse occurs more often to these women and in this business. Finally I will sum up and conclude my findings.
Main body
Wages and rights
The most common way illegal women in agriculture are exploited is by having to work very hard for an unfairly low salary. This is the case for most of the illegal work force. The fear of losing ones job, or even face deportation or violence, is usually enough to keep quiet. In addition, the chance of getting a higher salary is slim at best as the employer always can hire someone else, willing to do the job for the existing salary.
With the increase in mechanical industry and the higher average level of education amongst Americans, many of the country’s “dirty jobs” end up