Massachusetts recruits Caribbean workers

[Freddie Stubbs]

The Associated Press
4/27/2004, 11:44 a.m. ET


WASHINGTON (AP) — Massachusetts business leaders, faced with a looming shortage of summer workers, are hitting the beaches — of the Virgin Islands.

Rep. William Delahunt headed a delegation Monday to meet with local officials there to discuss ways to identify workers who could fill seasonal jobs on Cape Cod.

"With Memorial Day around the corner, this is now a matter of hour-by-hour urgency that cries out for creativity," Delahunt said. "We share two things with the Virgin Islands: a first-rate tourism industry and staggering offseason unemployment."

The growing labor concerns have been fueled by the federal government's decision in March to stop processing employer requests for special guest work visas because the annual quota had been reached.

more: http://www.mlive.com/newsflash/lateststories/index.ssf?/base/national-1/1083080949223450.xml

[denverbill]

1. Here's a thought.

If you need employees, hire Americans. If you can't hire enough Americans, raise your wages. If that doesn't work, raise them even more. Eventually, Americans will be attracted to the high pay and will show up for jobs.

It's called free market capitalism. Try it sometime.

[MaineDem]

2. Ummm, a good number of the Virgin Islanders ARE Americans

Except those in the British Virgin Islands.

[denverbill]

3. OK, so that's slightly embarassing.

I guess I can't complain if they are US citizens.

[Desperadoe]

4. If they're Americans

why does the article mention visa quotas?

[MaineDem]

5. The article also says...

that no visas are required for USVI residents.