Roger_Dooley

I'm sure most summer learning programs in the U.S. are entirely legitimate, but this one seems to have required students to work long hours in low-paying manual labor:
NYT: Cultural exchange program or cheap labor? - US news - The New York Times - msnbc.com

This incident shows it's always a good idea to get references about any program, and if possible check with past participants as the the quality of the opportunities offered.

tylrrvera

what a horrible experience for them, many of whom im assuming have never been to the US previously.

rymd

This is widespread. All these programs all around the world advertising for an international experience and worldwide peace, saving the environment... you pay $4000 and all you do is work on a farm all day for peanuts.

thewildworld

that's awful.

DarthSpawnus

Thanks a lot Roger_Dooley for sharing this.

Vladenschlutte

So it's like the reverse peace corps?

katliamom

The problem isn't with the program. The problem is with this particular employer.

Work and Travel is actually a government-sponsored program and it's a pretty good one. Often, participants work in hotels, restaurants, amusement parks and casinos: vacation-related places that need extra labor over the summer. At the end of the program, students have a full month to travel.

I've known quite a few students who did it, and were so pleased with their experience, they came back for a second summer. Many of them worked more than one job, and those that I met not only made enough to pay their costs, but also to bring home what for them was a significant amount of money.

worldspirit

Well said Kaitliamom. There are some great international workers, most notably in hospitality jobs. These workers gain valuable experience and offer superb service. Most are well educated and seeking to add some experience in the US for the future prospects.

newmassdad

Wrong. The Govt. only authorizes certain groups to process visa applications and such.

Some of these organizations, although organized as non-profits, are anything but. Just look at the fees quoted in the article. One should really look at the tax returns filed for CET to see how much Rick Anaya is getting paid, for example.

I was especially disappointed to see the "pass the buck" nature of the responses. everyone involved seemed to blame someone else. Was no one checking? No follow up? Pretty obviously not, once the payments were received.

Edit: this is from the CETUSA website:

Your International Employees

* Can work up to 4 months
* Are highly motivated to work and gain experience
* Flourish in a diverse, multi-cultural environment
* Are bilingual and often multilingual
* Work for the same pay as U.S. citizens in similar positions
* Pay federal and state taxes but are exempt from paying Social Security, Medicare and Federal Unemployment Taxes
* Have their own medical insurance coverage provided by CETUSA

J-1 visa employees work in a variety of diverse environments. These include: amusement and theme parks, hotels, restaurants, seafood processing, hospitality, landscaping, national parks and campgrounds, in lifeguard positions and in factory/production work.

Nice cost savings aspect...

katliamom

There are many organizations that do Work and Travel - some are more expensive than others. I known 2 students who paid less than $1,500 just last year.

As to the non-profit nature of some of them, let's get real. Harvard is non-profit too and plenty pay over $50K to attend it.

But I agree that in this Hershey case, the whole situation is a scandal.

b@r!um

The $4K - $6K price quoted in the article actually sounds fair to me. I am saying that because seven years ago the standard cost of a year-long high school study abroad program was $6K. That included round-trip airfare, 9 months of health insurance, visa paperwork, placement with a host family and a monthly "are you doing okay?" check-up phone call from the organization while students were abroad. Neither host family nor high school received any remuneration from the program fees.

Subtract 5 months of health insurance, replace a host family placement with a job placement and add seven year's worth of inflation, and $4K actually sounds like a bargain!

Nighthawk1

The problem is that after all the fees they had to pay to get visas and travel to the US, they can't even break even with the money they earn. If you set up a travel abroad program, the students shouldn't lose money in addition to what they pay for the program!

katliamom

Do you mean W & T students in this particular instance? Or W & T students in general? I've known several W&T participants and none of them had a problem bringing home money even after traveling a bit after their program. Of course, the students I knew weren't working in a chocolate factory -- most were after service jobs where they got tips.

Dad_of_3

For a company like Hersheys, I can see them wanting to getting involved in a program where students work in Hershey Park like the way you have foreigners in EPCOT. Why in their right minds would they get these people to work in a factory? If Hersheys is pinching pennies, wouldn't they just have the kisses made overseas in the first place and shipped it in than get a bunch of students who are trying to learn English?

In general is there such a shortage of US students who'll work at these wages in the seasonal jobs that we need to get them from overseas?

katliamom

"In general is there such a shortage of US students who'll work at these wages in the seasonal jobs that we need to get them from overseas?"

Perhaps not now. But there was a shortage of hotel and amusement park workers before the economy tanked. These aren't very fun jobs - and they're physically taxing.