Question:
Is this work geared to study the thousands of undocumented farmworkers being paid less than minimum wage located in the town of Immokalee, Florida? Will it highlight their struggles and need for justice and a removal of the current near slave conditions?
Answer Paywizard:
Although our survey is not geared specifically to undocumented farmworkers in any particular locale, as per your question, we at the Labor and Worklife Program share a deep concern for anyone working hard to support themselves and their families. We recognize that border and immigration policy, labor rights, and a more effective guest worker are critical issues in today’s society, and therefore, for us to be truly understanding US worklife, we need a comprehensive picture of workers throughout America.
In fact, to address this very issue, we are in the process of developing a Spanish version of the Paywizard to help Spanish-speaking workers in the United States. Certainly Internet access can be an issue when individuals are working long hours; however, we know that our public libraries are frequently important community centers and can provide valuable access. Our Spanish-language site will include all of the most important information that the Paywizard currently has, including our Minimum Wage section and our Salary Calculator, two tools that we hope will help employees know what rights they hold and the kind of pay they should be earning. However, in order for this to be successful, we need individuals like you to spread the word. Please encourage your friends, family, and colleagues to use our site as a resource and to take our online Salary Survey.
More specifically, at the present time there are several wonderful organizations concerned about the undocumented farm workers in Immokalee, Florida. These include the following:
- Food First – Institute for Food and Development Policy
Thank you for your concern, which I share. While I may be a Wizard, I am afraid my powers are simply not great enough to improve individuals’ lives instantly. Rather through hard work, collaboration, and research to effectively and effectively inform policy and advocacy, however, we can help.