LatinaLista — A news item that didn’t make the front/home pages of news sites today was a piece about the new labor agreement between Mexico and Spain.
While those who are against undocumented Mexican immigrants in the United States might say, “good riddance,” the important thing to note is that Spain has a need for more workers, recognizes that fact and is taking advantage of the hostile attitude prevalent in the U.S. today towards Mexican immigrants to seize on the opportunity.
Right behind Spain is Canada.
The question that begs to be asked is: Will the short-sightedness of US immigration policy be the downfall of our economy?
In the agreement between Spain and Mexico, which is scheduled to begin in January 2008 as a 12-month pilot program, qualified Mexican workers will be able to work in Spain with all legal rights.
Depending on the demand, workers of all fields will be permitted to come.
In a not too subtle jab at the U. S., the Mexican Labor Minister Javier Lozano Alarcon said:
“Instead of walls, agreements are constructed when there is will, sensibility, intelligence and understanding.”
While more of the details still need to be worked out, from the onset, it was made clear that this was not just a one-way agreement. Spanish workers will be able to travel to Mexico to work as well.
And while Mexico was shaking hands over the Spanish accord, a Canadian official publicly expressed his desire to create a program that would also bring Mexican workers to Canada to work in other industries instead of just the fields where they are sanctioned to work now.
“Hundreds of thousands of workers are needed,” said Toronto Councilman Giorgio Mammoliti. “The (Canadian) business community has a big interest in counting on (Mexican) workers, and we have expressed this at the highest levels of both governments.” According to Mammoliti, skilled Mexican labor is needed in the construction, tourist and service sectors.
Losing undocumented immigrant labor is a loss already felt in some communities that have nothing going for them than the hometown industries.
To stand by and not create a program that addresses the fact that our economy needs immigrant labor, legal or otherwise, is like an alcoholic who won’t admit he has a drinking problem.
The longer there’s insistence that everything will work just fine without this essential labor force, the more other countries will tap into what is already ours for the taking.
In the process, other economies will be building up and gaining strength and the US will be left to wonder when did our economy go south?
Comment(21)
Liquidmicro
“There are many Mexicans who go to Canada to work but they are not trained for these areas, and the problem is that we need a lot of personnel,” Mammoliti added.
Doesn’t this then mean that they only want Mexico’s trained persons, not the poor migrants, and if so, doesn’t that leave Mexico in a bind with all there trained persons going to Canada and Spain? Leaving Mexico to deal with their poor?
Liquidmicro
I have to ask…. Since Spain is for “workers of all fields will be permitted to come”, then why is it they don’t let the Africans, who migrate there do the work?
Although only nine miles separate Africa from Europe, that stretch contains some of the most dangerous currents in the world. Now, some people in Africa are so desperate, they are ready to pay $1,000 a head just to get across, and they’ll take their chances on anything that floats.
Seventy-five people from the Moroccan village of Tangier drowned trying to cross the waters last month. When FOX News approached families of the victims, they started to cry. One man lost 21 relatives.
With no electricity, jobs, education, or running water, there is nothing to do but wait for someone to get them out of the area. “These people are so desperate they are ready to die,” said Khalil Jemmah, a Moroccan aid worker. “It’s just a question of who gets here first, the smugglers or the terrorists.”
Marisa Treviño
You’re exactly right about Spain’s attitude towards Africans. From what I saw (I was over there last spring), their attitude is like many have here towards Mexicans.
While it’s true that most of the Mexicans who will migrate to Spain will be professional, that’s not the case entirely in Canada. In the article, it said that Canada needed labor in other areas – construction, tourism, etc.
The bottom line is that these countries are doing this to fill their labor needs and, as much, to make an example of the US it would appear.
Liquidmicro
Isn’t the labor agreement with Spain and Mexico similar to our H-2A, H-2B, etc., Visa programs, where the employer has to qualify the need for the applicant? The problem we have is that the employer doesn’t want all the liabilities that come with the visa and the worker, they just want the cheap labor. And if so, then what makes it any different than what Americans are asking, to Immigrate here legally?
Frank
We do not need millions and millions of unskilled illegal aliens in our country for labor. That is nothing but a myth. If Mexicans want to go to Spain and work, thats fine. At least they already speak the language. If Canada wants them, so be it. We need to get back on track as a nation of laws and only hire legal immigrant labor where needed.
We are not a racist nation as the pro-illegals are constantly suggesting. Nor are we bigoted towards any ethnic group. We take in more imigrants than any other country and from all over. I wish the lies would stop!
Liquidmicro
Sorry Marisa, I have to disagree with your blatant call of “their attitude is like many have here towards Mexicans.”
Most here have attitude towards ‘Illegal Immigrants’, it does not matter from what country they hail from, or the color of their skin. ‘Illegal Immigrants’ should not be here, as Spain and most of Europe are dealing with the ‘Illegal Immigrants’ that enter from a broad without documentation, but are willing to strike accords with other countries for ‘qualified’ workers to come legally.
diana joe
“The Earth Does Not Belong To Us…We Belong To The Earth”-Chief Seattle
All of yous that have these shallow-minded views of the Earth,and certain groups of its inhabitants are pretty sick in your souls already…not only are you wasting your time, and your energy with all your rhetoric, and your lame referals about the rule of law-you are perpetually chasing your damned tails like some rabid animals.
Your arguments about the Rule Of These uncivilised and outdated Laws are lame and inconclusive!{the Rule Of Law has never been FAIR to people of color-indins,islanders,south americans, central americans,asians,,,bleh-
The rule Of Law is used eagerly in the issue of these particular immigrants because it is convenient for all those CAPITALIST monsters to resort to it, and hide behind its deviant, and blurred purpose ..as they continue to sit comfortably in their ZONED atmospheres without having to feel for any particular groups. It is simply not in the best interest of these ELITes to scoot their old “accomplished asses” over, and make any attempt to be generous in the least, to any of the obviously needy of this EARTH.
The elite and the “accomplished” {highly educated,highly politcal,highly high,highly unreachables,highly arrogant,…ugh y’all know what I’m say- It isn’t even about HOMIE LAnd secUriTy or of any damned TERRORIST INVAsion its freakin’ accomplished Amerikkkan GREED.
Since when have we heard from any of the “accomplished” few to be generous in their disposition?
– Never…even Billie Gates and Malinda are in it for the TAX break,and thats just the way it is here in A-mi*Rica.
It doesn’t take much of an education to figure out who the haters are-they hide behind the American flag, and they use the rule of law SELFISHLY and at their convenience-to further oppress the minority groups-these people that uphold the rule of law would fall over backwards in their lawn chairs if Pablo ,and his mother ,and grandmother ,and some of his aunts ,and Pablos’ sisters ,and their pet parrot and the peacocks were to move next door to him in the gated community! He would protest to his little home association and DEMAND that the family be reduced to just Pablo and the peacock-because his wife was too “different” looking -maybe? Gated communities is just another word or discription of I’m in my own preferance of my colorless world, and you with color aren’t welcomed-because the spices in your food are to intrusive-there is no tolerance in the spirit of a racist.ZERO.
-illegal is a like president giving or getting oral sexual satisfaction at work in the rectal er’ rectangular office-while (employed)serving the people of the United States-illegal is the next {even sicker}president covering up the fact that his under-aged twin daughters were using FAKE identification to break the LAW to get DRUNK in public -and the MEDIA is manipulated to censor the truth-bleh!
throws-up
Deport Lou Dobbs
The only person telling lies is Frankie baby.
Frank :
We do not need millions and millions of unskilled illegal aliens in our country for labor. That is nothing but a myth.
IT IS A MYTH JUST BECAUSE YOU SAY SO. HAHAHA.
We are not a racist nation as the pro-illegals are constantly suggesting. Nor are we bigoted towards any ethnic group… I wish the lies would stop!
KEEP TELLING YOURSELF THAT. THE REAL MYTH IS THAT YOU CANNOT SEE YOUR RACIST SELF IN THE MIRROR.
FRANK IS IN MANY OTHER BLOGS SPEWING THE SAME TRIPE. SAD THAT THIS IS THE ONLY THING HE DOES ALL DAY LONG.
Frank
Try telling that to the governments of every country and it’s citizens on this planet. Try telling them they shouldn’t be allowed to have borders or soveriengty. Tell Mexico in particular the same thing and see what they have to say to you. Make sure you tell them that you think it wrong for them to protect their southern border and to allow all South Americans or any other group that wants to come to be able to do so. Get back with me on their answer as there shouldn’t be a double standard as to the U.S. having the same rights as Mexico or any other country.
sick-freak
diana joe…did you forget to take your medication?
I don’t understand what the hell you are talking about!?
RedPatriot
Back to Mexico you beaners you are no longer welcome!
RedPatriot
Back to Mexico you beaners you’re no longer welcome!
Horace
The answer is no, Marisa, because after we start enforcing our immigratin laws and seal the border, we’ll give other foreigners the opportunity to apply for visas to replace those illegal aliens who self-deport. Maybe we’ll bring in some Asian-Indians or Africans who’ve been dying for the opportunity to come here. Maybe we’ll invite some Mexicans who’ve never broken our immigration laws to apply for visas. The whole world should have the same opportunity for applying, as that would be the fair thing to do. Equal opportunity for everyone, right?
Liquidmicro
According to the articles, Spain and Canada are doing the same as the USA in requiring immigrants to come legally and having strict enforcement on those that enter through the program to make sure all rules are followed and that they leave when their times are up, the only difference is that you condone Spain and Canada but condemn the USA for it. My question is WHY? What is the difference as to which country is doing it, since they all are doing the same thing?
diana joe
diana took her medication-all of it!
flower
The difference between Mexican and US goverment are the money from the undocument people (taxes). Mexican goverment DOESNOT RECEIVE TAXES FROM THEIR ILLEGAL ALIENS.
Liquidmicro
Actually Flower, Mexico has a 15% sales tax on purchases, so in reality, even he ‘Illegal Immigrants’ in Mexico are paying tax that the Mexican Government does receive.
Now if you are talking about ‘Illegal Immigrants’ in the USA paying payroll taxes, thats a different story, since ‘Illegals’ in the USA can’t work, thus how are they then paying Federal or State Taxes? OH, that’s right forged/stolen documents.
Even ‘Illegals’ in the USA pay a state sales tax for items purchased here.
Thus, no different than in Mexico of ‘Illegal Immigrants’, just a less percentage rate here on the item.
Liquidmicro
The sales tax (IVA) is 10% on all goods and services in Baja California and Baja California Sur but is 15% for all the rest of Mexico at this time.
While most tourist, retirees and even a lot of the Mexicans are not interested in obtaining a factura as they have no need or desire to deduct these expenses, you must still write or print out a factura if it is going to be accounted for. One trick you will see a lot in Mexico is the “we won’t charge you sales tax if you don’t want a facturaâ€. This “discount†is not exactly something Hacienda will look kindly upon if it finds out about it. This is the way people do business under the table in cash but of course the law states that the 10% is to be charged on all goods and services.
Frank
flower, so as long as there is revenue to be made, that is all that matters? Laws don’t matter? Money should be the deciding factor in what is right and what is wrong?
El Loco
Maybe the best thing that can happen is for Mexicans to go to Spain and Canada to work instead of the U.S. Two things may happen: a lot of those businesses and industries that depend on immigrants to prosper will either have to increase their wages to attract U.S. citizens. This, in turn, will drive the price of their products up and will make it more difficult for them to compete in the market – if their product is something the U.S.-based industries produces but the market also import . . . from businesses in countries that allow entry of foreign workers.
Alternatively, it may not make business sense to keep these industries open – or open in the U.S. So, the companies may close and move to another country where the production costs will be lower or they will just close.
Maybe that needs to happen before some people realize that we may not like having foreign workers – documented or not – in the U.S., but we sure as heck need them.
Liquidmicro
Loco, you are under the assumption that it is entire industries that will be effected, when in reality only a small portion of an industry may be affected. Some small businesses may go out of business due to ‘Illegal Immigrants’ being removed, but this may help the remaining small businesses compete more fairly with larger businesses as well.
I’ll ask again, why is it that you condone Spain and Canada but condemn the USA for it? What is the difference as to which country is doing it, since they all are doing the same thing? Why doesn’t Spain let the Africans, who are ‘Illegal Immigrants’, do the work instead of bringing in Mexicans legally?
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