What is your opinion about those who work illegally and those who employ illegal workers?
Personally, as a legal immigrant to the United States, I have a strong feeling against working illegally in a foreign country. It is almost comparable with 'jumping in line' on a long queue - it is a disrespectful act to the hosting country, its citizens and its legal immigrants.
Of course there are many unfortunate people who tried to work/immigrate illegally, and they are looking for a better life. But if you are able to pay thousands of dollars to fly over to Australia, being able to prove that you had enough means to support yourself while you're over there, and by using the travelblog.com I assume that you are well educated - you have no right to misuse your purpose to stay there ie working illegally. If you don't want to use your working visa time - then don't work, as simple as that.
It would just piss off other people who are in the legal status, in my opinion.
Reply to this I dont really think there is any right answer to that question. Alot of people come to america to make a better life for there children. And the situations that they come from ust be really bad to come here and have to be on the lookout all the time. There are lot of illegal immigrants around where I live and most of them are great people just trying to make a living and a better life for their family. They are productive citiznes. I do agree that they should try to become legal citizins. I do however have a big problem if they are working and then they spend there money on doing illegal things.
Reply to this Often times - illegal immigrants equals economic migrant - I don't think this discussion should really venture into the rights and wrongs of that area.
I broadly agree that there is a duty from the visitor to respect the laws of the country - but often it falls into a grey area - a "Day without Mexicans" - would Australia suffer the same fate on "a day without the pomie backpacker"?
I personally know of several illegally working backpackers who when applying to become residents after staying in Australia several years mentioned this and were officially told "not to mention it - everyone does it". If that's the attitude in the country is it so wrong to play loose with the strictest sense of the law?
Another thing that I think affects the moral aspect of this discussion - are these workers taking jobs from the citizens of that country? - many times no, sometimes yes - it's a dilemma the governments have to deal with - the big danger for them is to do this without prejudice in regards to background (can of worms here).
Reply to this I know a guy from Afghanistan who is working illegally in Germany. He and his family fled from Afghanistan because it is getting so dangerous and hopeless there. He fled to Russia but couldnt stay there either because he is not of the skin colour they prefer. The German authorities know he is here and at one stage told him and his family they have to go back to Afghanistan. There was some kind of appeal courtcase and he wasnt sent back. If he is told he is to go back because it is now alledgedly safe enough he will probably run again. What a life! I think he should be allowed to stay here as long as it is dangerous in Afghanistan with no opportunities to make a living his family can survive on. The type of work he is doing is not the type that any German would want and does not pay what any German would accept as enough. His boss is from Afghanistan too. He is legally working here but cant afford to pay much to the employees working in his internet cafe so he hires illegally.
I dont have anything against these 2 working and hiring illegally because they cant really do anything else.
Reply to this What do you mean when you say "comparable with jumping in line on a long queue"? We are talking about people who -99 times out of 100- accept a lousily paid illegal job because they are not in the position to obtain a legal, properly paid one. Because if you are not allowed to legally be in a country in the first place, how are you ever gonna legalize your working status? These people are basically the backbone of western economies and we keep blaming them for things we should blame ourselves for.
As for people who employ illegal -UNDERPAID- workers, these are bloody scoundrels who take advantage of rulers who pretend not to see and poor people who have no choice. And this situation would be sad enough if these "bleeches" were locals, unfortunately in most cases we are talking about legal immigrants who exploit their own fellow countrymen. So, no sympathy for such people. As in a Clint Eastwood movie: "Hang them high"...
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