I used a lot time to find some books, and I wanted to proof that employment agency looks like a culture bridge between Chinese and American. However, I could not find anyone. I just found a book told about that how immigrants living in the United States through employment agency.
In this article, "The Chicago Employment Agency And The Immigrant Worker", Grace Abbott write about the role of the employment agencies in the case of immigrant workers in Chicago. The employment agency is important in the industrial or economic adjustment of the immigrant, and they formed League for the Protection of Immigrants. Most immigrant don’t have English skill, they can’t find job or get reasonable wages. The employees are vulnerable; they cannot normal to protect their rights. An investigation of employment agencies in Chicago, it wants to research what kinds of work may be obtained by the immigrant man or woman, what ways they are exploited, and what changes in the laws are necessary to reduce such exploitation to a minimum.
Abbott wrote, “He finds himself much handicapped when he tries to obtain work in the country in which he has been led to believe work is most abundant. In the first place, because of his ignorance of English and consequent inability to give or receive directions he cannot work without an interpreter.” The immigrant man’s situation is much more difficult because they can’t read and speak English, and they can’t converse with others. If they want to earn money, they just get a hard work, and also earn a few wages. Though this essay wrote in 1908, immigrant’s condition is similar. If everyone who has not English skill and high education, and they want to find a relax work in other country, it is impossible thing. Also, in addition to hard work, there is not an organization can ensure their rights, if they are happen some things; nobody can help them to solve their problems.
Abbott wrote, “As the conditions and difficulties of the immigrant man and woman are quite different their relation to the employment agent must be separately con-sidered.” So far as the women are concerned, the kinds of work offered are few. They just can do some easy work, such as, housework, hotel or restaurant work, factory work, etc. so immigrant girl pay a few service fees than immigrant men. The work offered her is almost without exception hotel or housework. However, in immigrant girl’s way, it has a lot of change in recent America. There are a lot of work provide to girls, and they need to pay same cost with man.
In “Many Immigrants’ Job Search Starts in Chinatown”, Sam Dolnick mentioned, “Many of the clients are new immigrants. Their homelands span the globe, reflecting the diversity of New York’s immigrant ranks and Chinatown’s emergence as a launching pad for them all, not just the Chinese.” Now more and more immigrants gather to the United State, they are from different country and say different language. But, they have same goals is to make money and blend in American life, let themselves and family lives better. When they came to American, they didn’t have friends, and they didn’t know how to get into new living environment. At this time, the employment agency is like a springboard, it gives them a chance to change their life, let them to get their want. Just to me, I think the employment agency is a simple place, it is just provides a job to those people who need. However, for those people, it is indispensable because if there isn’t employment agency, they can’t easier to find a job and earn money. Also, they can't get what they want life, and complete their dream.
In addition, “Some day, if we’re lucky, we’ll work at a high-class restaurant,” Mr. Meung said. “I hope so”, and it is from newspaper. Accounting to my investigation, I know employment agency has a lot of work, and most jobs are hard work. The working time is more than 10 hours, each week just can rest one day, and they don’t have high wage. Most people want to go to school in order to learn English or other skill as Mr. Meung. Because immigrants don’t have high educated, they can find relax job, such as office, government work, etc. If they want to do better live they need to learn English, and they have high English skill, they can get into America live, and make more American friends.
In “Despite City Crackdown, Immigrants Still Are Often Cheated by Job Agencies”, Ms. Rivas said, “she arrived at the “restaurant” last year, she encountered an atmosphere far different from what had been promised. She asked for a refund from the agency, but it refused.” Some employment agencies provide a job to customers, they don’t make sure that job is good, and introduced to the guest. If the job is bad, customers can't get back their service fees. I think it is a bad thing, but for employment agency, they don’t want to return money back, also they just receive a job requirement, they can't guarantee work is suit to everyone, and they also didn't mean to the bad work to the guest because if happen some things, the consequences are very trouble.
Javier C Hernadez motional, “Under city law, employment agencies are prohibited from guaranteeing applicants that they will find them jobs, and they are not permitted to place people in jobs that pay below minimum wage. Agencies are also required to provide a written contract, a detailed job description, and information on refunds and labor laws.” Most employment agencies don’t have to sign a contract with customer. They just provide a job to customer, if customer wants to do that job, and they pay the service fees to employment agency. Also, the pay of each work is not the same, they don’t have to limit a pay below minimum wage, and how much wage is decide by the employer. The employment agencies think they don’t need to bear the responsibility. I think it is a thing that can’t say clear because the employment agency is a complex place, it has a lot of things isn’t prescribed by city law. However, everyone needs to promise they have not cheated others, and they must be ensured guest's interests.
