Roman the Tile Setter’s Story is Proof of Need for E-Verify
July 22, 2010
By Leah Durant
In May 2010 the US Bureau of Labor Statistics placed the US unemployment rate at 9.3 percent. Estimates throughout the year have placed the US underemployment rate – a number accounting for those working part-time, but looking for full-time work, at well over 15 percent. This number includes individuals who what to work but have given up searching for jobs altogether.
While many Americans struggle to find the jobs they desperately need, many companies hire illegal immigrants and earn big bucks by keeping wages low and profits high, driving down wages and profits for American citizens, legal residents and honest employers.
One honest employer who feels the pain of this practice is Roman, a tile setter from California. In a recent interview posted on YouTube by the Center for Progressive Urban Politics, Roman describes his struggle to find profitable jobs in an environment in which many of his competitors choose to hire illegal workers. In this illuminating video, Roman describes how competitors who hire illegal workers offer tile setting services for far less than he can, because these employers pay workers extremely low wages. It bears noting that these employment practices are not only unfair, but are also illegal under federal employment law.
“They’re paying slave wages,” Roman said. “I’m competing against people that will work for just about nothing.”
Roman does not blame the illegal immigrants themselves for his economic woes. According to Roman, he understands that illegal workers are trying to provide for their families, just like him. Roman instead blames the contractors who employ illegal workers, and drive down salaries and profits in fields like construction and the skilled trades.
By shedding light on the problem of employers who reject Americans in favor of hiring undocumented workers, Roman raises an important issue. Why are these employers able to get away with this? Why are honest employers like Roman losing business and earnings to those who cheat the system?
It becomes clear from stories like Roman’s that the US desperately needs to fully implement a system to check the work authorization status of its workers. Employers should not have the option to hire and take advantage of anyone, illegal immigrants or otherwise.
The federal government already offers E-Verify, a free, opt-in program that allows businesses to check the legality of new hires. If this program were fully implemented, more Americans like Roman could get back to work and begin earning a living wage.
