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Fearful of job loss, workers ignore abuse
Clemente Rodriguez, 32, is a shoe bagger in a retail store in Manhattan's upper east side. He stands all day long in the storage area, carries heavy loads of shoes and works nearly 14 hours a day for which he is paid $35 and with no overtime or other benefits.
His story of abuse and exploitation in the workplace may not be uncommon. Rodriguez, a documented immigrant, knows what is due to him. He also knows about the recent increase in New York's minimum wage. But this time he'd rather remain tightlipped than lose his job in the economic downturn.
Rodriguez, according to some advocacy groups, is among an escalating number of workers, at least in New York, who may be aware of their labor rights but choose to bear harsh working conditions for fear of joining the ranks of the unemployed.
From retail shops and restaurants, to construction sites and bodegas, this new phenomenon driven by the economy is another front in the battle to protect workers' rights. Many undocumented immigrants, say advocacy groups, fearing deportation if they speak up, keep their heads low and work for a pittance.