What Makes Day Labor so Difficult for Chicago Migrants
Migrant day laborers in Chicago face rampant wage theft, unsafe working conditions, and intimidation while seeking informal gig work in Home Depot parking lots. They brave extreme heat and cold and may earn as little as $5 per hour of work.
To support each other, many day laborers, with support from worker centers such as Latino Union of Chicago and Raise the Floor Alliance, have created group chats and educational outreach programs to get to know each other better, share information about their legal rights, and identify exploitative contractors. Despite advocacy efforts and resources, many workers—constrained by immigration status and fear of retaliation—do not report abuses from contractors. The article highlights an urgent need for formalized protections and safer hiring systems, such as those that California and Texas have implemented.
Source: City Bureau | Click here for full story.