Reader comment: Why can't businesses pay a living wage?

Follow on Twitter
on September 15, 2011 at 10:45 AM

Responding to The Associated Press article, "Louisiana groups seek to block immigrant wage increase," reader ObserveAll commented:

immigrant_hotel_workers_protest.jpgView full sizeLatin American workers, some with enlarged copies of work visas hanging around their necks, protest their job conditions in New Orleans in August 2006.

"What would these businesses do if there were no immigrant workers? They would have to pay a living wage to American workers. The problem with competition in the job markets where immigrants tend to work is not with the immigrant; this should make it clear where the problem is. Does this say that some American industries cannot survive while paying a decent wage, or would the desired profit margin not survive while paying a decent wage?"

Join the conversation; reply to ObserveAll