Critics of the J-1 program claim that lax rules mean foreign workers are being exploited by U.S. employers.
A case taken against Wyndham Hotel in Orlando claims a dozen Asian students were not paid minimum wage for their work during a year long J-1 program in which they were supposed to use as an “educational and cultural exchange.”
A similar year-long program has attracted thousands of Irish graduates to the U.S. since it was expanded to Ireland in September 2008. Typically students pay around €1,000 in program fees to agencies in Ireland before arriving in the U.S. to begin their year abroad.
The lawsuit was filed last week with a Florida federal court on behalf of students from Thailand, Vietnam and India, whose visas allowed them to work within different divisions of at the Wyndham Bonnet Creek Resort, near Orlando reports My Fox Detroit. The complaint claims the students involved paid agencies about $5,500 to join the program, as well as thousands of dollars extra for airfare and housing.
Vanessa Coe, of Florida Legal Services in Lake Worth, who represents the students involved says students in the J-1 program often make low wages offering prospective employers a cheap labor alternative.
“The employers don’t have to give them insurance or other benefits and they get no paid time off,” she told the Palm Beach Post.
“On top of that, the J-1 students can only work for that one employer. If they leave the job they have to leave the country, so they don’t leave. They are at the mercy of the Wyndham.”
“Our guys were promised a certain type of internship but instead were used as housekeepers or line cooks, which was totally different than the experience they paid for," Coe told Fox.
One of the plaintiffs’ involved, Dirakerit Kotchawong graduated with a hotel-management degree and worked as a supervisor in a hotel in Thailand before coming to the U.S.
However he flipped burgers and cooked French fries during his stint working at the Wyndham resort.
“Many students are wasting their money and getting nothing," he said.
5 Comments
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.Bythebay | Jun 15, 2012, 03:38 PM EDT
With the new US policy allowing illegals to take jobs and university places, the J1 visas have been effectioveluy declared null and void since there'll be no jobs available for them.
Seanmor | Jun 14, 2012, 10:02 AM EDT
Since the millions who entered the U.S. illegally obtain free health care in hospital emergency rooms and have strong support of politicians, journaists and clergy, J-1 visa holders who comply with the nation's immigration laws should have similar rights and support.
Bythebay | Jun 13, 2012, 12:00 PM EDT
These J1 visas should be stopped. the US youth unemployment rate is huge and those jobs are needed by legal US residents. Otherwise, deport the illegals as well.
IrelandNorth | Jun 13, 2012, 06:06 AM EDT
Ya mean employers don't ordinarily exploit workers? Surely its the degree theroeof. Reminds me of a comment attributed to Irish patriot/trade unionist James Connolly. Trade unions only question the severity of the lash applied by employers - not the morality of wielding it! Irish think tank Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) has found that workers with children are better off on the dole than working. Irish Business and Emplyers Confederation (IBEC) are demanding social welfare be lower to economically coerce unemployed workers to accept low paid jobs. Interesting how IBEC don't increasse rates of pay to attract such workers, since they believe in competition - albeit apparently only conditionally!
greensod | Jun 12, 2012, 10:52 AM EDT
Do they think they are going to America to take over as the CEO of these companies.There is nothing in America for free,but plenty for those willing to work for it.