Michael Hlinka: There are jobs if people are willing to work
- September 10, 2009 7:55 AM |
- By Michael Hlinka
Money Talks is a business column from CBC radio.
By Michael Hlinka, CBC business columnist:
There are signs that the economy is turning around … somewhat. But there are fears - and I think these are legitimate - that we might be looking at a jobless recovery.
Economic growth may turn positive, combined with persistently high levels of unemployment for a long time to come. And if this turns out to be true, then it strikes me, at least, that the Canadian practice of bringing in temporary workers to do jobs that we simply won't do, should be looked at very carefully. Last year, more than 190,000 labourers were imported - temporarily - into our country, to be shipped back out when their term of employment was over.
This practice is particularly prevalent in agriculture. Right now, as I speak, there are thousands of men and women, mostly from Jamaica and Mexico, toiling in Canadian fields, helping harvest the crops that contribute so much to our standard of living and quality of life.
What I find most stunning is not the sheer number of temporary workers, but the growth in those numbers over the past generation. Since 1980, the Canadian population has grown by approximately 25 per cent. Yet we're bringing in four times the number of people to do our dirty work. What this implies, of course, is that what was done largely by Canadians in previous generations is now being done by someone else.
There's a simple reason why this is happening. In the words of Ken Forth, the president of the Foreign Agricultural Resource Management Service: "We need seasonal workers and we don't have enough Canadians that want to do it. It's as simple as that."
I find these words absolutely stunning … and disheartening. There has a continuous drumbeat this summer about the high rate of student unemployment. Thirty years ago, young people used to take to the fields of Canada to perform this necessary and dignified work. I have distinct memories of going to a wedding where very early in the evening the reception hall cleared, because people had to get up early the next morning for work.
No question that the work is hard. Wages are about $10 an hour. The days are long - 10 hours is typical.
Yet, we're making a decision: We're saying to our unemployed and students that we don't expect you to do hard work. No - just keep drawing benefits and taking out student loans, we'll bring in other folks … let 'em do what we refuse to, then boot them the hell out of here.
I hope that all of us keep in mind that if the recovery is jobless, it's not because there are no jobs. It's because we, as Canadians, choose not to do the jobs that are there.
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Comments (36)
It's not so much about where the jobs are or even how little they pay but can one survive on that when you consider how the real estate prices have been skyrocketing, yes even now despite what that real estate agents have you believe.
GodYesOrNo.com
you want people to work for minimum wage to support legal aid maybe? and get less of what they really need?
For two summers my son worked beside migrant farm workers from Mexico – at a large greenhouse operation growing tomatoes and a tree farm. He was working as a Labourer/Teacher - an excellent program run by Frontier College to provide ESL and advocacy support to migrant workers. He often commented on the amazing work ethic of the Mexican workers - so fast and tireless and yet always working and living together with such camaraderie. He felt he learned far more from them than they had from him and was of the opinion that most Canadians would not be willing or able to work that hard.
I attribute this unfortunate situation of good jobs paying decent wages going unfilled to the strength of unions. They would rather pay people not to work than undermine their dictatorial advantage vis a vis the real people trying to generate value and growth in the economy.
Mr. Hlinka wrote, "...Yet, we're making a decision: We're saying to our unemployed and students that we don't expect you to do hard work..."
Really? Well, I'm unemployed. I have a university degree yet cannot find work because I have a very serious disability. Yet, my disability is not severe enough, according to CPP, that I can sit back and collect benefits.
I would love to work but cannot work evenings due to my disease (I have MS). I cannot drive and sometimes have problems with my vision and dizziness. Don't get me started on neurological fatigue.
However, it's the realities like mine that prompt less than zero understanding from prospective employers and government. Now, columnists such as yourself now spout off on some massive generality and - what - expect understanding from one an all?
Your anecdote about going to a wedding whose reception ended early because everyone had to go work early made me laugh. At least you can go to evening events; I cannot.
In future, Mr. Hlinka, I would suggest that you think twice before you make such assumptions about the unemployed; for while many do fall into your category not all of us do.
You ar absolutely correct
I worked the fields in Southwestern Ontario all summer long, after school and saturdays and Sundays (after Church) until frost.Then I worked a a waitress. I Learned a good lesson doing this and that was to stay in school so that I would never have to do it again, but I was always prepared to go back to these jobs if necessary to feed my family
It was honest, hard, but honest work, kept ;me in shape
B
In today's world, experience is king. If an out of work engineer-in-training (EIT) goes to work in a field instead of looking for a job (while on EI), then he might end up being a labourer for life.
I’ve lived on $1000 per month (after tax) and it’s not worth it. No house, no car, no security, no experience. Those who say, “well, it’s an honest day’s work” have not experienced life at that level. Remember, even the dentist may be out of reach for people with no insurance and no money. For example: ever had a really bad tooth ache? If you go to the dentist there’s no money for food, if you don’t go, the pain of chewing is so terrible you can’t eat. Either way, life sucks.
People would be far better off getting loans or EI and getting more education. The sooner you get relevant experience the sooner you will be financially secure.
Right on Michael. I think this is very true for those jobs that require a highschool diploma. Those are the types of jobs that get easily filled by contract workers.
The situation is quite different for professional level jobs requireing post secondary degrees.
How much of the national unemployment rate is attributed to low vs high income paying jobs?
I don't agree with the statement "let 'em do what we refuse to, then boot them the hell out of here." The provincial and federal government provide numerous programs for contract workers to work towards landed immagrant status.
I came from a country with culture that value hard work and peer respect. Contented of what we have but strive to do better in life. That is why I came to CANADA 34 years. With patience and some sacrifices we managed to be in the level where we can say we are living a comfortable life now, much better than back home. The concept of not finding a job is false. There are lot of jobs around even with imported foreign workers. The problem I can see with what we are now is we are looking at a quick and easy job that pays lot.
We shy away from jobs which are dirty, hard and pay less. If everyone do their part at this hard economic time, we will be far better than any other country. Mostly,we are always overwelmed by compiting with our next door, buying to many toys and putting ourselves in debt, instead of be content with what we can afford.
I am pretty sure if the job paid a wage that a person could get by on, without having to share housing and food expenses with several other people, we would not need migrate workers.
In this day and age most students who were raised in an urban center will avoid the callused hands, long hours and hard work to stay in the air conditioned retail outlets where the work is less strenuous and pays the same.
Perhaps a system similar to tree planting, where the worker is paid based on output could be used to attract more Canadians to work the fields.
After reading Michael's article, I sorta get it. But something bothered me. After counting up my monthly bills and annual outgo, as a middle-aged earner and contributor to Canada's economy and infrastructure, Micheal's endorsement of $10/hour jobs just won't suffice for me nor anyone like me.
At 52 years of age, if I run out of work, not an unreasonable possibility, given that I am a consultant, $10/hour will just about pay the fuel to drive to that closest farm needing labour. Don't get me wrong - I have worked for $10/hour when I was desperate for enough fuel to allow me to do more than drive to work... but I will not willingly drop back 35 years of struggle to work for what I earned as a kid. I cannot afford it.
I challenge Michael to work with me for a whole week at a job that pays only $10/hour, IF he can get his wife's permission when the bills are due. I think Michael would find any number of legitimate reasons why he oculd not possibly accept such a job. Nevertheless, put your money where your mouth is, Michael - I challenge you to live on $10/hour, really live within it, knowing that's all you've got.
Russell Collier,
near Smithers, BC
Maybe more Canadians would do these jobs if they paid better. This is a situation of supply and demand. The supply of workers is artificially high due to temporary foreign workers, so the wages are too low. If companies had to compete fairly for their labour wages would be higher and more people would be willing to do these jobs.
These are jobs that require hard physical work, and should pay more then less physically demanding jobs in the retail sector.
When I was a student 30 years ago doing summer jobs I did work on farms. As I recall the farmers found ways to pay less than minimum wage. Few people could pick fast enough to earn minimum wage. I do not believe the Mexicans and Jamaicans are getting $10 per hour. Canadians are not lazy we are just not stupid enough to work really hard for next to nothing. If Canadians are going to work on farms our food prices will have to go up.
If the pay was enough to attract Canadian workers, we would have to pay more for food, or we would only eat imported food that is produced with cheaper labour. I don't understand why we see some work that has unpleasant features, such as agricultural work, hard work with isolation and long hours, and live in nannies, as jobs that are exempt from having to pay what the Canadian labour market demands to attract workers. If contruction workers were paid minimum wage, we would probably have to import foreign workers, given the working conditions, but we would all pay less for homes. If airport baggage handlers were all paid minimum wage, given the shifts and remote locations, we would might have to import foreign workers to do the job, but air travel would be less expensive. And so it goes for all jobs that present inconveniences or hardship. Why do we allow these selective end-runs around the simple economics that employers have to pay premiums to have Canadians take jobs in isolated locations or that involve harsh working conditions?
I agree with Michael Hlinka 100%. It is important to get Canadians to do these jobs instead of relying on outsiders. Working in the fields would be an amazing experience especially for students during their summer vacation. Those who rely on welfare should jump on such opportunities as it will change their life style to the better.
I would be interested in where this reporter got his information from. I am a student, and am finding getting work difficult. In my experience field work is pleasant, even though it is hard labour; early mornings and fresh air more than make up for a sore back and aching muscles. The problem isn't that field work is "dirty work", it's that the pay doesn't cover (ever increasing) basic living costs in Canada. Oh - and I've never been offered $10 an hour for field work, nor have I been able to get much more than minimum wage for piece work. I agree that we shouldn't be bringing these workers in, because then perhaps a field worker could make a decent living.
I do not want to be known as a rabid supporter of student causes but I do believe your comments about students not wanting to do farm labour is unfounded in fact.
Most employers hiring for seasonal work will only hire workers that can work for the season.
If you cannot work in September and for two weeks of October the employer will have to look elsewhere.Students return to their studies in September but often have to leave work in the later half of August to get ready for their academic life.Thus the farmer is left without help at a critical time.
Universities and Colleges would be wise to keep this in mind.A shift in their schedules would to rectify this problem.If the semesters ended at the end of June and began after Thanksgiving the scheduling issues for farmwork and resort hotels( large resort hotels need employees until the end of conference season) would be solved.
Academia and commerce should work together to harvest the available work.
In southern Ontario, with all of the unemployment from the auto sector, former auto workers could take advantage of that sort of seasonal work, but they probably are not ($10 per hour could still pay the bills). About the idea that Canadians no longer want to do various sorts of work - that might be possible. Consider as well the small percentage of Canadian born persons who take the time study hard and pay to go to university compared to recent immigrants to this country. It is not just the agricultural jobs that many Canadian young people are losing interest in. About the goal of 'reducing poverty' in Ontario, it depends mainly on the private sector businesses to create and maintain jobs, and the maintenance of a business friendly environment. On the government side, to reduce welfare payouts in Windsor, they should require applicants to apply for jobs in the seasonal fruit industry. Otherwise there will be too much pressure on their budget which is strained by unemployment. Some American towns have gone bankrupt - even California has run out of cash, so such policies are not so extreme if they could reduce welfare during the seasonal fruit-picking season. It would reduce payouts and keep cash in the province.
Another factor not considered by Hlinka is the distance that separates the work from the workers as Canada population is comprised primarily of city dwellers.
Commuting isn't feasible for $10/hr -though good luck making that- and good luck finding temporary accommodation in rural Canada. Perhaps some of the Federal stimulus bucks should have been spent getting Canadians to where the work is.
Temporary workers are also prevalent in urban service industries. Many retailers and restaurants, -many supposedly proudly Canadian- seem to be addicted to this modern form of indentured servitude.
Yeah Michael, so the 180,000 people we import on an annual basis is about a whole 1/10th of the unemployed. What about the other 9/10ths?
Workers are imported by and large by either ag corporations or large corporations, such as the tar sands companies. By importing these workers who are willing to work for much less with lower working standards (witness the collapse of the vessel that killed chinese workers in Fort Mac) all the other worker bees, native to this fine land, are put in their place and told not to ask for a living wage for fear of what???!!! More foreign workers to take their place. Just what we need. Right to work legislation like that in the United States of America.
Somewhat true.
$10/hr is hardly a stellar wage these days; accommodation on-site might help with that otherwise you are working to cover rent most places in AB.
The work can be very demanding, and the issue of worker's comp/agricultural work is also an issue. I believe (correct me if I'm wrong) that many of these situations are exempt. If you get injured...goodbye and good luck.
As others have said, $10 is only enough to live on, let alone pay for transport from your university town to rural canada, the cost of moving, the cost of student loans (which have only gotten higher and higher since I've been a student) or the cost of secondary out of pocket health care like dental/optics. And god help you if you have some sort of dependent. Wishes don't feed your kids. It's easy for Michael to talk about what the plebs should do from his ivory media tower - try living it.
I bet the ten dollars an hour that the Mexicans or Jamaicans are getting goes a long way where they live. That is probably middle class for most of their countries (just guessing though). Go to a factory in rual Mexico. They are definitely not getting $10/hour. The farmers around here don't seem to get a salary increase as expected in other industries. I was making a decent salary in Ontario as an engineer, and even then it was tough keeping up with the bills sometimes. I worked on farms when I was in high school for $10 an hour, almost 15 years ago now. I am not doing it again unless I absolutely have too. I agree, students or unexperienced workers should be taking those jobs, but my 10 hours a day would better spent looking for a job in my field.
Look I'm from rural Saskatchewan and I can tell you about this from first hand knowledge.
You are dead wrong.
The only way a person gets by on $10/hr seasonal labour is because they are living in a house with 20 other migrant workers, and they can keep costs down in that fashion.
If that is what you are advocating as the "Canadian Way" then great, but I think we all know that's not what we want from life.
So, to the author, until you've tried getting by on $10/hr, working 12 hour days, and trying to get by on your OWN, don't write any more.
I request that my name not be published.
I agree with Michael to a certain extent however Temporary workers or Seasonal workers is NOT limited to Farm workers. Today's "farmworker" is the Tech person from India or China. These people are brought in from offshore by the Companies who have contracts with Canadian companies to have their projects completed at a fraction of cost. In turn the new "farmworkers" work here for say a year or two..get qualified to apply for Permanent Residence and voila...now they are Immigrants. In the meantime the students we pay for to graduate from Universities don't find jobs. Welcome OUTSOURCING...
The companies who outsource their work to offshore companies have social responsibilities too. IF they want to make profits in Canada then they must invest in Canada (and I dont mean paying Taxes ..that is another chapter). If a comanpy saves 50% of their cost by outsourcing then they must charge their customers 50% less. But that is fairy tale.
it is financially reasonable for a mexican or jamaica to work for 10 and hour if they are taking the money back home , because the cost of living in these countries is much less and they can get by on that kind of income. It is also more than what they would make working at home. I, a canadian of jamaican background have relatives who have done this for years and it works for them.
For a canadian, living and paying expenses in canada, 10/ hour for this kind of work is completely unreasonable and rightfully nobody think it is worth it when you can get the same income sweeping the floor in a big box retail store and 2 times as much picking up trash.
Also a student worker at 10/hr cannot replace the farming expertise of an experienced middle aged migrant worker, and of course in Canada, a middle aged man cannot raise a family on 10 dollars so farming is out of the question.
If student's applied for these farm jobs im am almost sure that employers would still prefer hiring migrant workers because of the value added (experienced workers at a cheap cost and less fuss).
I would like to see the author of this article take on one of these jobs for 2 months and then decide if he finds any value in doing so. I will also add mass production farming over the centuries have always been dependent on very cheap labour or free labour.
The migrant workers that do these jobs live in trailers on site in typically horrible conditions. A canadian wanting to take this job (even a young student) needs to get to the work site. Transportation costs have become so high that this is impossible, big oil has made gas too expensive, the insurance racket has made car insurance the same, even safety standards have made it so that unless parents buy their kids cars students just can't get to work sites. Rural bus service is much worse than it was 30 years ago.
Seasonal work for Canadians who must remain in the country - especially low wage work like this agricultural example - simply isn't an option for those who must survive year round in our economy. No individual can work for minimum wage in this country for only 7 months of the year and expect to keep any quality of life.
Better than nothing? Yes. But this isn't real employment, this is a sentence.
It is better served by all by the importation of these migrant workers who can make something of the meager wages that these farms can afford to pay (and remain competitive), in their own economies. Sad but True.
Unless, of course, our Federal government were willing to re-examine the ban on subsidies Instituted under the NAFTA, for the agricultural industry to offset the horrendous cost of energy involved in our relatively low volume agricultural industry and pass the savings back into wages, this will remain the status quo.
My wife worked in the agricultural sector for years, and I have to question the assertion that the average wage is $10.00 per hour. Usually the rate is piecemeal and far lower for migrant workers. This is compounded by the fact that the work is seasonal, rather than secure. Further, not only is the work hard, but in British Columbia recent events involving agricultural workers have demonstrated that often our WCB rules are not followed in this industry. In many cases, this makes it dangerous as well.
The fact that these positions are not filled is market economics in action. If the wages were enough to make a reasonable living on, they'd be filled. They are not filled, so the message is clear.
Hlinka, of course there are jobs if people are willing to work. I'll hire you to be my maid for 7.50 dollars an hour. As that is still the minimum wage in many provinces. Working 10 hours a day 70 hours a week that should come up to 490 $ a week, minus taxes, EI, etc.. your lucky if you walk out with 300$. Lets say you do manage your 300$ a week. thats 1200$ a month. Ill be kind and say you live in a hole in the ground ie basement suite that costs 650$ a month to rent. your left with 550$ dollars. Lets say you take the bus, thats 100$ a month. Now you have 450 dollars, lets say you eat macaroni and no cheese everyday, , now you are left with 200 dollars. Now lets say you never had to buy clothing, etc. On 200$ savings a a month it would take you 15 years to put down a down payment for a house, for a mortgage you would never afford. In other words you want canadians to go towards one big dead end instead of finding meaningful work where we are more productive anyways.. You would have fit in perfectly in North Koreas government.
There were jobs for students in Southern Ontario this summer that paid $10/hour? I'm sure my many unemployed friends would have loved to know about them. They certainly weren't advertised anywhere. Did my friends remain unemployed because they didn't have the proper connections, because they can't afford cars (plus gas and insurance) to drive to a farm, or because they're 19 year old girls from Toronto, whose value on a farm would be extremely limited, at best.
You do realize that a large majority of Ontario's post-secondary students are female, right? Why would any farmer with a brain hire a 110 lb. girl who's never seen corn before, when they can hire a 190 lb. Mexican or Jamaican man, who's been farming corn for 30 years, and freely accepts gross violations of labour laws?
I worked two jobs last summer for just under $10 and significantly under $10, avergaging 50-70 hrs a week. After paying fuel expenses, rent and other necessities I ended the summer with about $1500, most days covered my gas bill to get there. How can students be expected to pay for thier education during the summer while the living costs are killing us? I did not inculde vehicle repair, insurance, travel costs and so on. (I do not keep a vehicle during term, it was kindly loaned to me yet even with this generousity I struggle)
Minimum wage is a job. Our government control the minimum wage at $10/hr for years. Have they ever controlled the house pricing and living standard? The rental pricing in Vancouver jumps multi-folds in the past 10 years. The transport fare is going up every year. How about the wage?
My son worked minimum wage over the summer. He is living with us and barely saved less than a thousand dollars for his education.
The old days are gone, unfortunately, I haven't seen the silver lining yet.
The main reason why people don't take those jobs is because they can make more money being on welfare. The minimum salary is too low. If the government wanted to increase the workforce, they should bring up the min. salary to $12.00 an hour. People would have a better life.
Slave labor is not very attractive to Canadians at this time. Although welfare isin't either. Yet the other possibility one in this decision has, is to go underground. Oh yea, lets no forget the most obvious, to think about simplifying, the Canadian lifestyle to more like that of a third world country. Sure would be nice if they made these jobs more attractive to Canadians and helped us.
If you study American history you will see that these low wages are what really got them where they are today,,,,,
Where I live students do work these jobs. I did it as student as did many others. The real reason they need migrant workers is there isn't enough youth to do all the work. Our population didn't grow as fast as the industry expanded. Back when I did it there were very few migrant workers. Today you have the same number of students doing the work but it's not enough. So they bring in more migrant workers. Simple as that.