County Commissioner Fritz Sobanja recently received a call from a constituent regarding a local youth who had lost out on a job at a local restaurant because it had been filled by a foreign worker.
Sobanja wondered why a local businessperson would hire a foreign worker over a local kid whose parents would probably be eating at his or her restaurant. He brought his concern to the other county commissioners at their Tuesday, May 18, 2010 county board meeting.
“Where is the sense of community?” Sobanja asked. “What has it gotten to? We really should try and keep our local kids employed and not be shutting the door there,” he continued. “Come on, let’s put our local kids to work.”
Sobanja said he figures most parents would want their kids to have the opportunity to get work experience and interface with the community in which they are being raised.
Commissioner Bruce Martinson pointed out that the county board has no power to keep employers from hiring foreign workers over local youth.
“I think it’s a concern for all members of our community,” Sobanja said. “Let’s just be conscious of what we’re creating here.”
For over a decade now, local businesses have relied on foreign workers to fill tourist industry jobs. Many community members have worked to include the foreign workers in community life and help them feel welcome and have advocated for them to be provided with decent living accommodations while they are here.
Sobanja did not decry the practice of employing foreign workers, rather he expressed concern that in some cases, local youths who have traditionally gained rich work experience before graduating from high school are being denied that opportunity. “It’s like hiring a Martian!” Sobanja said.
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