Re: Illegal / Legal Questions

Apparently, the issue in western europe and the US is still the same:
protect the domestic workforce first. I don't see the US being
apologetic about it.

The questions about 'green card', 'permanent resident', 'naturalized
citizen' or 'born citizen' are all questions about domestic diversity.
And, perhaps this is where you're feeling that US is being apologetic
about it, but these questions have nothing to do with the guest
workers. Since it's a domestic issue, and the minorities (racial,
ethnic, or gender based) in the US have fought enough to make
themselves recognized, the issues about their protection do precipitate
in sensitive situations like discrimination in jobs.

The boomer (40+) issue that you point out is definitely an issue in its
own right as well.

But again, I think the point was that discrimination across the
domestic workforce is illegal, but separating the domestic workforce
from the so-to-speak guest workforce is legal and nobody is apologetic
about it.

Peace ...

Max





--- Ed Mathias <[email protected]> wrote:
> This discussion raises something I've always found interesting
> regarding
> the treatment of Visa workers in the United States.
>
> I was an expatriate programmer in Western Europe for a few years.
> During
> this time, I observed several debates within various contries
> regarding the
> necessity of restricting of worker visas due to local unemployment.
> At no
> time in any of these discussion were questions of discrimination,
> xenophobia, or any similar categorizations raised.  The prevailing
> attitude
> was that of "assuring opportunities were offered to your own citizens
> first".  It was not (I mean NEVER) questioned other than for reasons
> of
> economic impact.  In short, they protected their job markets for
> their own
> residents far, far more agressively than the U.S. does and are
> unapologetic
> about it.  They seem to feel it was their duty.
>
> Whenever the possibility of restricting visas is raised in the United
> States, it is usually followed by a "full body convulsion" from
> several
> quarters with all the aforementioned discriminatory accusations.  And
> judging by the tech unemployment rate for 40+ workers, we've
> certainly got
> as many job protection issues as anybody else. Studies have shown the
> 40+
> worker is the category that seems to be most heavily impacted by
> guest
> workers.
>
> I guess the question I'm posing here is,  Is restricting Visas in
> order
> to "protect your own" bad for any country, or is the U.S. being held
> to
> a different and unfair standard than others?
>
> BTW.  This is the liveliest the job board has been for months,
> perhaps
> ever.  Might as well do this, it sure doesn't get many job postings.


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