Mexican Immigrant Mexican Immigrant Workers in the U.S.Workers in the U.S.

Background and Context of Background and Context of MigrationMigration

National COSH Conference, National COSH Conference, November, 2005November, 2005

The Context of MigrationThe Context of Migration

Why are people migrating in great Why are people migrating in great numbers?numbers?

What is the context from which they What is the context from which they come? (Previous work experience, come? (Previous work experience, education, etc.)education, etc.)

What are their goals and plans—do What are their goals and plans—do they see migration as temporary or they see migration as temporary or permanent?permanent?

NAFTA and its effects on migrationNAFTA and its effects on migration

Corn is the traditional staple crop for Corn is the traditional staple crop for millions of small farmers in Mexico.millions of small farmers in Mexico.

NAFTA opened markets for U.S. corn, NAFTA opened markets for U.S. corn, sending prices so low that there was sending prices so low that there was no longer a market for Mexican small no longer a market for Mexican small farmers’ corn.farmers’ corn.

So, many small farmers have left So, many small farmers have left rural areas to work in the US.rural areas to work in the US.

U.S. Farm SubsidiesU.S. Farm Subsidies

Depress corn prices by encouraging Depress corn prices by encouraging farmers to produce as much as farmers to produce as much as possible.possible.

Currently a huge worldwide glut in Currently a huge worldwide glut in corn supplycorn supply

Projected subsidies of $22.7 billion Projected subsidies of $22.7 billion for 2005for 2005

Wages in MexicoWages in Mexico

Minimum wage: approximately 56 Minimum wage: approximately 56 cents ($US) per hour.cents ($US) per hour.

Due to inflation, minimum wage has Due to inflation, minimum wage has LOST 79% in buying power from LOST 79% in buying power from 1982 to 2002. Now it is only enough 1982 to 2002. Now it is only enough to buy 19% of the basic food basket to buy 19% of the basic food basket for a family.for a family.

Typical construction worker makes Typical construction worker makes about $1 (US) per hour.about $1 (US) per hour.

Attitudes Towards MigrationAttitudes Towards Migration

Most Mexicans say that they would Most Mexicans say that they would rather stay in Mexico to live and work rather stay in Mexico to live and work but that they don’t see any but that they don’t see any alternative. alternative.

Either there are no jobs at all or the Either there are no jobs at all or the jobs don’t pay enough to live on.jobs don’t pay enough to live on.

Attitudes towards migrationAttitudes towards migration ““I, for my part, I’d like to give it up right I, for my part, I’d like to give it up right

now, stay here forever, if there was work now, stay here forever, if there was work here. None of us goes there because we here. None of us goes there because we want to, I don’t think any of us wants to go want to, I don’t think any of us wants to go there. But we have the difficulty that there there. But we have the difficulty that there is no work here. “is no work here. “

““Because when we leave here, we never Because when we leave here, we never know if we’re going to come back or not. know if we’re going to come back or not. We don’t know if the river is going to carry We don’t know if the river is going to carry us away…”us away…”

““Until there’s work here, we have to go Until there’s work here, we have to go there.”there.”

Migrant Workers Rights Migrant Workers Rights Training ProjectTraining Project

Under the auspices of the Under the auspices of the Community Foundation of the Bajio Community Foundation of the Bajio (central Mexican region)(central Mexican region)

Coordinate with local municipalities’ Coordinate with local municipalities’ offices of “Attention to the Migrant”offices of “Attention to the Migrant”

Present three hour workshops in local Present three hour workshops in local communities for migrants and their communities for migrants and their familiesfamilies

Workshop ContentWorkshop Content

Workers’ rights under U.S. Workers’ rights under U.S. employment lawsemployment laws

Limitations on undocumented Limitations on undocumented workers’ rightsworkers’ rights

How to find a decent job in the How to find a decent job in the formal sectorformal sector

Sources of help—community and Sources of help—community and government agenciesgovernment agencies

Si se lastima en el TrabajoDivision of Workers

CompensationPost Office Box 420603 San Francisco, California

94142 dwc@dir.ca.gov (415) 703-4600

Si quiere reportar una condición peligrosa en su trabajo

CAL-OSHALos Angeles

(213) 576-7451 …

Ayuda Con Problemas LaboralesSouthern California COSH

675 S. Park View St.Los Angeles, CA 90057

(310) 206-0860

Ayuda General para MigrantesEn Todo el Estado

Interfaith Coalition for Immigrant Rights 965 Mission Street Suite 514

San Francisco, CA 94103415-227-0388

The Downside of Migration from the The Downside of Migration from the Perspective of those left behindPerspective of those left behind

““Some of them go away and forget Some of them go away and forget about their families” about their families”

““Sometimes they can’t find work and Sometimes they can’t find work and there’s no money to send home” there’s no money to send home”

““They get into drugs”They get into drugs” “ “They’re hunted by They’re hunted by la migrala migra”” ““Many die in the desert or in the Many die in the desert or in the

river”river”

……the Downsidethe Downside

““They aren’t around to see their They aren’t around to see their children grow” children grow”

““They get the worst, most dangerous They get the worst, most dangerous jobs”jobs”

““They’re treated like criminals”They’re treated like criminals” ““They’re humiliated”They’re humiliated” ““They’re sent back to Mexico” They’re sent back to Mexico”

Perceptions of the Migration Perceptions of the Migration ExperienceExperience

““Immigrant” or “Immigrant” or “MigranteMigrante”: Most ”: Most Mexicans working in the US retain Mexicans working in the US retain strong ties to their communities, plan strong ties to their communities, plan to return. Less investment in long-to return. Less investment in long-term future in U.S.—goal is to make term future in U.S.—goal is to make as much $ as possible in short time: as much $ as possible in short time: will they put this at risk by filing a will they put this at risk by filing a complaint on safety hazards?complaint on safety hazards?

Remittances: The mainstay of Remittances: The mainstay of Mexican rural communitiesMexican rural communities

Remittances: Money sent back home Remittances: Money sent back home to Mexico by migrants working in the to Mexico by migrants working in the US.US.

One Example: In rural areas of the One Example: In rural areas of the state of Guanajuato, Mexico, 65% of state of Guanajuato, Mexico, 65% of money spent comes from money spent comes from remittances from migrants in U.S.remittances from migrants in U.S.

Why Immigrant workers are more Why Immigrant workers are more vulnerablevulnerable

Language Barriers: Few recent Language Barriers: Few recent immigrants speak much Englishimmigrants speak much English

Lack of knowledge of rights: very few Lack of knowledge of rights: very few recent immigrants have even heard recent immigrants have even heard of OSHAof OSHA

FEAR of immigration authorities and FEAR of immigration authorities and perception that employers and/or perception that employers and/or government rep’s will turn them ingovernment rep’s will turn them in

Vulnerability: YouthVulnerability: Youth

Many boys leaving Mexico for U.S. to Many boys leaving Mexico for U.S. to work at 13 years and up. work at 13 years and up.

53,000 youth <18 yrs have left state 53,000 youth <18 yrs have left state of Guanajuato alone to work in U.S. of Guanajuato alone to work in U.S. in last five yearsin last five years

Young workers are particularly at risk Young workers are particularly at risk for injury or death on the job.for injury or death on the job.

VulnerabilityVulnerability

Great economic needs: families at Great economic needs: families at home have no other income source, home have no other income source, rely on remittances from workers in rely on remittances from workers in U.S. U.S.

Job Shifting: many immigrant Job Shifting: many immigrant workers doing dangerous jobs in U.S. workers doing dangerous jobs in U.S. that they’ve never done at home.that they’ve never done at home.

Young WorkersYoung Workers

Young immigrant workers are doubly Young immigrant workers are doubly vulnerable: they don’t have enough vulnerable: they don’t have enough experience to recognize risks and are experience to recognize risks and are often afraid to question unsafe often afraid to question unsafe conditions.conditions.

Usually can’t get jobs with reputable Usually can’t get jobs with reputable employers, so many are hired by employers, so many are hired by unscrupulous contractors. unscrupulous contractors.

A Mexican construction worker A Mexican construction worker talks about young guys on the job:talks about young guys on the job:

I saw a lot of accidents. Like in Austin, I I saw a lot of accidents. Like in Austin, I was working on a building, construction. was working on a building, construction. There was a young guy…they told him to There was a young guy…they told him to climb up and there was a railing but it was climb up and there was a railing but it was rotten and he fell down. He fell down from rotten and he fell down. He fell down from the roof and he broke his hand. How come the roof and he broke his hand. How come that happens? Because they are young that happens? Because they are young guys, they go for the first time (to the US) guys, they go for the first time (to the US) and when the contractor tells them “Go on and when the contractor tells them “Go on up there,” they go up. Because they need up there,” they go up. Because they need the work and want to please the boss.the work and want to please the boss.

Another comment:Another comment:

““And because they’re young And because they’re young guys, they aren’t afraid of guys, they aren’t afraid of anything. It’s not that we are anything. It’s not that we are afraid, we’re just more cautious. afraid, we’re just more cautious. They’re not afraid, cause they’ve They’re not afraid, cause they’ve never seen anything.”never seen anything.”

The Challenge for Young PeopleThe Challenge for Young People

They may be able to make decent They may be able to make decent money in the US even with little money in the US even with little education and at the lowest end of education and at the lowest end of the job spectrum…the job spectrum…

In Mexico, few good job opportunities In Mexico, few good job opportunities even for those who do continue in even for those who do continue in school.school.

……VulnerabilityVulnerability

ECONOMIC REALITY OF IMMIGRANTS: ECONOMIC REALITY OF IMMIGRANTS: For many immigrant workers, job For many immigrant workers, job stability is more important than stability is more important than safety or fairness—willing to accept safety or fairness—willing to accept unfair or unsafe conditions.unfair or unsafe conditions.

Unfamiliar Jobs and Worksite Unfamiliar Jobs and Worksite ConditionsConditions

Nearly 2 million foreign-born Nearly 2 million foreign-born construction workers in U.S. ; over 1 construction workers in U.S. ; over 1 million of Mexican origin.million of Mexican origin.

What do they call the jobs they do:What do they call the jobs they do:

“ “ Roofero”Roofero”

““Frameador”Frameador”

““Sheetrockero”Sheetrockero”

““Las Yardas”Las Yardas”

Lack of Prior “Safety Culture”Lack of Prior “Safety Culture”

Generally, a much lower level of Generally, a much lower level of safety awareness in Mexican society safety awareness in Mexican society as a whole than in U.S. as a whole than in U.S.

Examples: Seat belt use, driving Examples: Seat belt use, driving behavior, hazardous conditions that behavior, hazardous conditions that children are exposed to, etc.children are exposed to, etc.

Here in Mexico, have you gotten any Here in Mexico, have you gotten any training or information on safety?training or information on safety?

No, nothing.No, nothing. Here in Mexico, they are very poor as Here in Mexico, they are very poor as

far as safety equipment.far as safety equipment. They just yell at you.They just yell at you. They don’t have any of that.They don’t have any of that. The companies have the money, but The companies have the money, but

they don’t want to spend it (on safety they don’t want to spend it (on safety equipment.)equipment.)

Lack of Safety Culture in the Lack of Safety Culture in the WorkplaceWorkplace

Most workplaces in Mexico lack basic Most workplaces in Mexico lack basic safety programs: adequate protective safety programs: adequate protective equipment, S&H training, adequate equipment, S&H training, adequate safeguards on machinery, etc.safeguards on machinery, etc.

Managers rarely place high priority on Managers rarely place high priority on safety. safety.

S&H enforcement is weak. Mexican S&H enforcement is weak. Mexican “OSHA” is very under-funded, very few “OSHA” is very under-funded, very few inspectors to cover millions of workplaces.inspectors to cover millions of workplaces.

Mexican Workers’ Attitudes Mexican Workers’ Attitudes towards S&Htowards S&H

Most Mexican workers have very low Most Mexican workers have very low expectations of their bosses in terms of expectations of their bosses in terms of safety. “You have to protect yourself.”safety. “You have to protect yourself.”

Mexican workers expect little from Mexican workers expect little from government agencies in terms of government agencies in terms of protecting their safety.protecting their safety.

May be willing to take significant risks on May be willing to take significant risks on the job due to their great economic need.the job due to their great economic need.

SummarySummary

Mexican workers come to the US with:Mexican workers come to the US with: Great economic needsGreat economic needs Little education and often little work Little education and often little work

experienceexperience Little prior safety trainingLittle prior safety training Little awareness of the importance of Little awareness of the importance of

safety on the jobsafety on the job Low expectations from employers Low expectations from employers

and government in terms of safetyand government in terms of safety

Can migration be stopped or Can migration be stopped or slowed? My Opinion slowed? My Opinion

As long as there is little work in As long as there is little work in Mexico and most of jobs don’t pay Mexico and most of jobs don’t pay enough to support a family, people enough to support a family, people will continue to risk their lives to will continue to risk their lives to cross the border. No amount of cross the border. No amount of enforcement will stop this.enforcement will stop this.

The only solution: serious investment The only solution: serious investment in rural development and job in rural development and job creation in Mexico.creation in Mexico.