Foreign student workers seek justice

The voice on the phone sounded desperate.

It was a woman who wanted to expose an injustice, and she was trying to shelter some of the victims.

It involved foreign students hired to work in the local tourist industry, being brought to this country to get some work experience, satisfy their sense of adventure, improve their English and perhaps have the opportunity the see Disney World before going home.

The reality, the woman said, was that seven or eight young people were being crowded into an apartment designed for four. There was no furniture, no food, and no means of transportation other than being picked up for work by their liaison, and being brought back to the apartment 17 hours later, hungry, and needing sleep before being put back to work the next morning.

The workers say they get paid but receive no pay stubs, so they don't know how much is missing. They are each responsible for $250 rent for the small apartment, and the liaison says he takes a dollar an hour from each check for his cut.

The woman said she tried to intervene and eventually brought some of the youths into her home where she and the youths are intimidated by the liaison and fear for their safety. She said another woman was trying to provide food for the hungry youths.

She called Gulf Breeze News to get the story out in the open.

I told her we didn't publish again for a week and a half due to the holiday, but that I would try to make contact with someone who could verify her story and make sure it didn't happen to other unsuspecting youths.

Unfortunately, the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service didn't respond, the Department of Business and Professional Regulation say it isn't their problem; our U.S. Representative's office said to call the local law enforcement; and the Department of Homeland Security referred me to a tip line to record a message that never produced a beep.

Local retailers will tell you they can't staff their businesses without the help of these intermediaries who provide workers from around the world. One former business owner told Gulf Breeze News that he's tried offering above average pay, benefits and flexible hours but still can't attract the number of workers necessary to keep his restaurants open. In desperation, he contracted with a reputable firm to provide foreign nationals.

However, not all firms are reputable, it seems.

But there is too much at risk for these kids ... they are far from home, in a strange country, and they are unfamiliar with the system. Speaking a word to the wrong person could wind up hurting their situation even more, if it got back to their liaison.

There are stories of Lithuanian girls seen in the local grocery store with just a loaf of bread and peanut butter, and those who politely decline to mention any personal details as they try to do their jobs.

Is it because they are afraid to let anyone know the dark secrets behind what could be an adventure of a lifetime?