If Illegals were paid minimum wage would this increase inflation drastically to all of our detriment?

Question

People are divided on the Illegal peoples issue in most western Countries. They are taking our jobs, working for less than minimum wage etc. Not contributing to the tax and social security/ national Insurance etc. this applies to their employers too.

If an illegal were paid minimum wage wouldn’t this cause a huge surge in inflation, especially in produce farming. If Mr illegal is now paid double what he used to get, will vegetables, fruits and wine double in price too?

Would Citizens also do those jobs for minimum wage or should it be for even more money?

Would this cause a recession to all of our detriment?

Do we need this cheap labour/labor to keep inflation down?

Do you think this is why the Governments don't stop illegal peoples working, are they too afraid of the consequences?

Let me know what you think

(just to clarify) This question is about Inflation that would be caused by employers if they were forced to pay the legal minimum wage to everyone, including illegals.

It is not about what to do about illegal people.

Answer 1

Your premise is incorrect that most illegal aliens work for less than the minimum wage. They get paid more than the minimum, particularly the illegals who came to the USA on work or student visas. Many of these people are making much more than the minimum wage. I don't have the exact figures, but the majority of illegals earn more than the minimum federal wage.

So the answer to your question is that the effect on our country's inflation rate would be minimal. We do not need this illegal labor, but we do need legal, unskilled laborers.

Answer 2

It's been 2 week since the amnesty bill failed 200 million USA have spoken why are we still talking like it's still an issue. Please the legals that are here will be happy to do the jobs of the illegals with more pay an less dependence on our social services. Citizens will get there construction jobs back an all the jobs lost to lower wages. The employers have a choice hire illegals an get fine then louse your license.or hire legals an life goes on. That a easy call.

Answer 3

Employers are required to pay the min. wage to agriculture workers. Ag. employers are not required to pay over-time to agricultural workers here in WA State.

Employers are also required NOT to hire workers who are illegal.

Remember if they have a Green Card they are legal to work in the US.

So the only people that immigration is trying to keep from working are people who broke the law by entering the US illegally. That is why you have to fill out a I-9 and show proof of who you are such as your drivers license and a social security card.

Many times employers are presented with fake IDs and hire illegals unknowingly.

I think the real question should be: If a person breaks the law by entering the US illegally (and not taking the time to get a Green Card) should they be rewarded with citizenship and all the benefits that come with it?

No I'm not a racist, I just don't believe in rewarding a person who has intentionally broke the law, when there are legal ways to enter the US.

Answer 4

When I started working in 1987, my wages were 7.50 per hour. Today, my wages are 11.55 per hour. That is only $4 more per hour in a 21 year work history. Currently minimum wage is $5.85 per hour, and will be $6.55 per hour THIS July 24th. That means, that I am only making $5 more per hour than a person who is attending high school, skills of 9th grade education, limited life experience. And employers usually do not pay just the minimum wage because they don't want turnover, so they will pay over the minimum wage by a slight margin. The costs still transfer over to the consumer. The 99 cent menus at Fast Food Restaurants are becoming more & more limited. The common consumer relys on those menus to help get thru the week or with tight budgets. By the other extreem, the Golden Parachutes of Executives, who even if having been found committed forms of fraud or corruption, their severence packages could finance a small town. I've seen it firsthand in companies I have worked. They get fired by the board of directors, and they walk off with millions in currency and stock purchases. This inequity is going to come to fruition if Congress or the Business Community (less likely) puts limitations on such practices. We're looking forward to a 2-class society....elimination of the middle class, and only the extreem rich & extreem poor left. Is this a modern French Revolution scenario in the works? <'(((><

Answer 5

There are 3 reasons why that would not happen.
1. More illegals draw welfare than work at all.
2. Those illegals that do work, usually make more that minimum wage.
3. Wages do not cause inflation. Printing more money does.

Answer 6

First of all, you're assuming, incorrectly, that they don't make minimum wage. The sad fact is, they make the same that anyone else would make, but because they're using a stolen ID, or have no tax ID at all, they're not paying taxes. Employers who knowingly hire illegals are also avoiding paying their fair share of taxes. Crooked business owners win and illegals wins. You and I lose.

Answer 7

i think the main problem with illegal immigration is that if the are illegal then they don't assimilate as well, really this can occur anytime a large minority exists, they tend to keep to themselves, but in the case of illegals the can only keep to themselves, thus illegal immigrants will continue to speak mainly their own language and also remain at their current status, so basically we will have a huge number of people in our country who 1. don't speak English 2. are unskilled, low pay workers and 3. are not accounted for so can't be brought to justice(not that a majority or even alot of illegals are criminals just the ones that are won't be in the system).

Answer 8

I guess if illegals were paid minimum wage I'd guess they'd all get fired and they would hire some legal citizens. The whole point of hiring illegals was to save money by paying them below minimum anyways...

Answer 9

I disagree with your first statement. Americans are not divided we are against illegals and are in the process of handling the problem. More ICE raids today.

Answer 10

Your question is moot since illegal alien criminals should not be paid anything. They are not suppose to be here. It is ILLEGAL to hire an illegal alien!