Illegal Workers

The largest retailer in the world and private employer in the United States, Wal-mart, has to pay $11 million to settle federal charges that it allowed illegal immigrants to clean its stores. Federal agents raided a number of stores in 21 states in October 2003 and arrested 245 illegal workers. A Wal-Mart spokeswoman said, “This settlement is designed to draw attention to other businesses that they also have the duty to ensure their outside contractors are following federal immigration laws.” President Bush proposed a temporary guest worker programme to allow more foreigners to work in the United States legally, but it faces opposition from Congress, who is seeking ways to crackdown on illegal immigrants. Do you think $11 million dollars is a harsh enough fine, when the company records profits of more than $10 billion last year? Will Wal-mart lose a majority of its consumers because they see what a “monopoly” this company has become?