US Meatpacking Industry Faces Immigrant Worker Shortage
2020-06-01
LRC
TXT
大字
小字
滚动
全页
1When Martha Kebede's adult sons moved from Ethiopia to join her in the United States this year, they had few job possibilities.
2The brothers took jobs at Smithfield Foods' meat processing business near Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where their mother lives.
3The work there is difficult. It also has become increasingly risky.
4The new coronavirus has sickened thousands of meatpacking workers nationwide.
5One day half the workers in one department did not show up for work. Later, the brothers tested positive for COVID-19.
6"It was very, very sad," Martha Kebede told the Associated Press.
7Almost 175,000 immigrants are employed in the U.S. meatpacking industry.
8It has historically depended on foreign-born workers for some of the most dangerous jobs in the country.
9At least 20 meatpacking workers have died from COVID-19.
10Several meatpacking centers have temporarily closed because of the coronavirus spread.
11This has raised concerns about possible labor shortages to meet demand for cow, pig and chicken meat.
12Companies struggling to find workers before the coronavirus crisis are spending millions on new ways to appeal to employees.
13Their ability to bring in new workers depends on things like unemployment levels, industry changes, and employees' feelings about safety.
14It also depends on U.S. President Donald Trump's immigration policies.
15Trump has restricted nearly all immigration.
16But his administration recently gave seasonal workers 60-day extensions, affecting some in the meatpacking industry.
17Daniel Costa with the Economic Policy Institute said that about 350 foreign workers were given official approval for meat industry jobs in 2019.
18Such H-2B visa holders, limited to 66,000 per year, are commonly employed in other industries.
19But there has been willingness to expand.
20In early March, the Trump administration announced that 35,000 additional foreign workers would be permitted into the U.S. to take seasonal jobs.
21The following month, the plan was suspended for "present economic circumstances."
22The nonprofit Migration Policy Institute reports that immigrants represent about 40 percent of the nearly 470,000 workers in U.S. meatpacking.
23Estimates on undocumented immigrants vary from 14 percernt to more than 50 percent at some factories.
24Industry leaders say they offer jobs with benefits and paths to higher positions for all workers.
25Paulina Francisco said her 21 years at Smithfield in Sioux City, Iowa, helped her buy a home -- something she did not think was possible when she immigrated from Guatemala.
26She is now a citizen.
27Still, most jobs are rural, limiting workers' access to lawyers, favorable labor laws and other kinds of jobs.
28Hourly pay averages around $12 for physically demanding work.
29Workers in the country illegally fear being sent back if they take action against poor labor conditions.
30"Vulnerable populations work well" for the industry, said Joshua Specht, a University of Notre Dame professor.
31Sudanese refugee Salaheldin Ahmed moved to South Dakota six years ago to work at Smithfield.
32After escaping war, the 44-year-old says he feels little worry, even after testing positive for the coronavirus.
33"They were killing in front of you," said Ahmed, of the violence he witnessed in Sudan.
34"The coronavirus is nothing." He has recovered from COVID-19.
35Some data suggests that police raids at these plants may temporarily decrease immigrant employment.
36Michael Clemens is a migration expert with the Center for Global Development, a nonprofit research group.
37He said noncitizens represented 52 percent of U.S. meatpacking in 2006 and then 42 percent by 2008.
38But during the Great Recession of 2008 those percentages changed again.
39By 2011, about 56 percent of meatpacking workers were noncitizens.
40With the fast turnover of employees, it is common for factories to re-employ an entire workforce yearly, says the non-profit group National Employment Law Project, or NELP.
41It seeks policies that support workers rights.
42NELP's health and safety program director, Debbie Berkowitz said meat packing companies "want to look for workers they can exploit, rather than workers that would feel comfortable raising concerns."
43The North American Meat Institute, an industry trade group, estimates most U.S. factories are at 70 percent production.
44Many meatpacking companies have added physical barriers between workers and other COVID-19 protections.
45I'm Pete Musto.
1When Martha Kebede's adult sons moved from Ethiopia to join her in the United States this year, they had few job possibilities. 2The brothers took jobs at Smithfield Foods' meat processing business near Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where their mother lives. The work there is difficult. It also has become increasingly risky. The new coronavirus has sickened thousands of meatpacking workers nationwide. 3One day half the workers in one department did not show up for work. Later, the brothers tested positive for COVID-19. 4"It was very, very sad," Martha Kebede told the Associated Press. 5Almost 175,000 immigrants are employed in the U.S. meatpacking industry. It has historically depended on foreign-born workers for some of the most dangerous jobs in the country. 6At least 20 meatpacking workers have died from COVID-19. Several meatpacking centers have temporarily closed because of the coronavirus spread. This has raised concerns about possible labor shortages to meet demand for cow, pig and chicken meat. 7Companies struggling to find workers before the coronavirus crisis are spending millions on new ways to appeal to employees. Their ability to bring in new workers depends on things like unemployment levels, industry changes, and employees' feelings about safety. It also depends on U.S. President Donald Trump's immigration policies. 8Trump has restricted nearly all immigration. But his administration recently gave seasonal workers 60-day extensions, affecting some in the meatpacking industry. 9Daniel Costa with the Economic Policy Institute said that about 350 foreign workers were given official approval for meat industry jobs in 2019. Such H-2B visa holders, limited to 66,000 per year, are commonly employed in other industries. 10But there has been willingness to expand. In early March, the Trump administration announced that 35,000 additional foreign workers would be permitted into the U.S. to take seasonal jobs. The following month, the plan was suspended for "present economic circumstances." 11The nonprofit Migration Policy Institute reports that immigrants represent about 40 percent of the nearly 470,000 workers in U.S. meatpacking. Estimates on undocumented immigrants vary from 14 percernt to more than 50 percent at some factories. 12Industry leaders say they offer jobs with benefits and paths to higher positions for all workers. Paulina Francisco said her 21 years at Smithfield in Sioux City, Iowa, helped her buy a home -- something she did not think was possible when she immigrated from Guatemala. She is now a citizen. 13Still, most jobs are rural, limiting workers' access to lawyers, favorable labor laws and other kinds of jobs. Hourly pay averages around $12 for physically demanding work. Workers in the country illegally fear being sent back if they take action against poor labor conditions. 14"Vulnerable populations work well" for the industry, said Joshua Specht, a University of Notre Dame professor. 15Sudanese refugee Salaheldin Ahmed moved to South Dakota six years ago to work at Smithfield. After escaping war, the 44-year-old says he feels little worry, even after testing positive for the coronavirus. 16"They were killing in front of you," said Ahmed, of the violence he witnessed in Sudan. "The coronavirus is nothing." He has recovered from COVID-19. 17Some data suggests that police raids at these plants may temporarily decrease immigrant employment. 18Michael Clemens is a migration expert with the Center for Global Development, a nonprofit research group. He said noncitizens represented 52 percent of U.S. meatpacking in 2006 and then 42 percent by 2008. But during the Great Recession of 2008 those percentages changed again. By 2011, about 56 percent of meatpacking workers were noncitizens. 19With the fast turnover of employees, it is common for factories to re-employ an entire workforce yearly, says the non-profit group National Employment Law Project, or NELP. It seeks policies that support workers rights. NELP's health and safety program director, Debbie Berkowitz said meat packing companies "want to look for workers they can exploit, rather than workers that would feel comfortable raising concerns." 20The North American Meat Institute, an industry trade group, estimates most U.S. factories are at 70 percent production. Many meatpacking companies have added physical barriers between workers and other COVID-19 protections. 21I'm Pete Musto. 22Stephen Groves and Sophia Tareen reported on this story for the Associated Press. Pete Musto adapted it for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. 23_______________________________________________________________ 24Words in This Story 25positive - adj. showing the presence of a particular germ, condition, or substance 26circumstance(s) - n. a condition or fact that affects a situation 27vary - v. to be different or to become different 28benefit(s) - n. something extra such as vacation time or health insurance that is given by an employer to workers in addition to their regular pay 29access - n. a way of getting near, at, or to something or someone 30vulnerable - adj. easily hurt or harmed physically, mentally, or emotionally 31plant(s) - n. a building or factory where something is made 32turnover - n. the rate at which people leave a place or company and are replaced by others 33exploit - v. to use someone or something in a way that helps you unfairly 34comfortable - adj. not worried or troubled