VOA标准英语2015--Virginia Organization Helps Undocumented Immigrants Find Work

Virginia Organization Helps Undocumented Immigrants Find Work

CENTERVILLE, VIRGINIA—

Illegal immigrants are an important source for day labor¹ in America, although their legal status is frequently at the center of the U.S. political debate. Day-to-day work is not always guaranteed, but a special kind of organization, the Day Labor Center, helps undocumented immigrants to both find work and receive fair compensation.

At the Day Labor Center in Centreville, Virginia, Felix Ceto from Guatemala is waiting for a day job.  At 34, Felix has been living in America for seven years, and can only speak very limited English.

“Well, most of the people from my country are here because we want to support our families; to contribute for food, clothing, education, let's say... anything that the family needs,” said Ceto.

He uses social media to communicate with his parents, wife, and two children.

“The plan that I have is to go back, because every day I miss my family more and more,” he said.

Molly Maddra-Santiago heads the Centreville Day Labor Center, which strives to protect day laborers², many of whom are vulnerable because of they are undocumented.

“Because they are immigrants, they are easily exploited.  We exist to make sure that doesn’t happen.  Workers here are typically paid at least $12/hour for any job that they do,” she said.

Salvador Sarmiento, a representative of the National Day Labor Organizing Network, said there is a major issue of wage theft in the U.S., especially for day laborers. Yet even as undocumented immigrants, he said, they have the right to fair compensation.

“The law is very clear… [There are] constitutional protections for all workers, whether they are undocumented or are documented, whether they are immigrants or citizens,” said Sarmiento.

The staff at the Day Labor Center help establish profiles and match employers and day laborers. In addition to helping³ find work for those who want it, the Day Labor Center also provides free classes. English lessons and home renovation⁴ courses are the most popular.

Ceto and his friend were employed on a recent day by Austin Acocella, who needed help with leaf removal in his backyard.

“I thank God I got the opportunity to be in this country. Even though you suffer a lot when you come here, I'm thankful that we are fine here and as well. I thank very much the people that opened this center because it's very important for us,” said Ceto.

Ceto dreams that one day he can make enough money to go home and see his family.

1 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

2 laborers   

n.体力劳动者，工人( laborer的名词复数 )；（熟练工人的）辅助工

参考例句：

• Laborers were trained to handle 50-ton compactors and giant cranes. 工人们接受操作五十吨压土机和巨型起重机的训练。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• Wage-labour rests exclusively on competition between the laborers. 雇佣劳动完全是建立在工人的自相竞争之上的。 来自英汉非文学 - 共产党宣言

3 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

4 renovation   

n.革新，整修

参考例句：

• The cinema will reopen next week after the renovation.电影院修缮后，将于下星期开业。
• The building has undergone major renovation.这座大楼已进行大整修。