Oops!
Apparently American businesses just took a closer look at the proposed immigration bill and spotted a couple things that they don't much like, according to an article in today's NY Times.
Employers, who helped shape a major immigration bill over the last three months, said on Sunday that they were unhappy with the result because it would not cure the severe labor shortages they foresee in the coming decade.
In addition, employers expressed alarm as they learned that the Senate bill would require them to check a government database to verify that all current and former employees — aliens and citizens alike — were eligible to work in the United States.
The employers' groups note that up until now they had some control over the hiring of foreign workers under employer sponsorship programs, which allowed them to obtain green cards for those potential employees who matched their needs. For example, high tech companies that needed software engineers could identify good job candidates from university programs, and if the candidates were from other countries, the companies could "sponsor" those candidates and obtain the necessary government documentation. Under the proposed bill, the employers aren't part of the process. The "means test" to be used would simply give "points" to those workers with high skills. As the article pointed out, those immigrants who are civil engineers aren't exactly in demand for a company that designs software, nor are MBAs with degrees in international finance. It's not hard to see why business groups are not happy with that part of the bill.
It is the second complaint, however, that is rather telling. Suddenly employers are faced with some very concrete liability for the employing of undocumented workers. Meat processing plants, restaurants, and construction companies who rely on unskilled workers willing to work for less money than Americans are now going to have to verify that all employees (current as well as new) can legally work in this country. That isn't sitting too well with them.
Normally, when both sides of a compromise are unhappy with the results it's a sign that the compromise was a good one. In this case, that doesn't seem to be situation. It now appears that the answer to the question I posed yesterday is that very few but very powerful interests are benefiting from the bill.
While there will obviously be further changes to the bill, it is beginning to look like only one side of the equation is going to have substantial input.
Employers, who helped shape a major immigration bill over the last three months, said on Sunday that they were unhappy with the result because it would not cure the severe labor shortages they foresee in the coming decade.
In addition, employers expressed alarm as they learned that the Senate bill would require them to check a government database to verify that all current and former employees — aliens and citizens alike — were eligible to work in the United States.
The employers' groups note that up until now they had some control over the hiring of foreign workers under employer sponsorship programs, which allowed them to obtain green cards for those potential employees who matched their needs. For example, high tech companies that needed software engineers could identify good job candidates from university programs, and if the candidates were from other countries, the companies could "sponsor" those candidates and obtain the necessary government documentation. Under the proposed bill, the employers aren't part of the process. The "means test" to be used would simply give "points" to those workers with high skills. As the article pointed out, those immigrants who are civil engineers aren't exactly in demand for a company that designs software, nor are MBAs with degrees in international finance. It's not hard to see why business groups are not happy with that part of the bill.
It is the second complaint, however, that is rather telling. Suddenly employers are faced with some very concrete liability for the employing of undocumented workers. Meat processing plants, restaurants, and construction companies who rely on unskilled workers willing to work for less money than Americans are now going to have to verify that all employees (current as well as new) can legally work in this country. That isn't sitting too well with them.
Normally, when both sides of a compromise are unhappy with the results it's a sign that the compromise was a good one. In this case, that doesn't seem to be situation. It now appears that the answer to the question I posed yesterday is that very few but very powerful interests are benefiting from the bill.
While there will obviously be further changes to the bill, it is beginning to look like only one side of the equation is going to have substantial input.
Labels: Immigration
posted by Diane at 3:58 AM
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