It's a well known fact that the restaurant industry depends on the labor of immigrants to keep operations running smoothly. From prepping vegetables to working the grill, clearing tables, and washing dishes, immigrants perform essential duties and are an important sector of the labor market. With the Trump administration pledging to crack down on immigration policies, the restaurant industry will certainly be affected.
Recent news stories tell of immigration raids that have left restaurants closed, and fumbling to find new staff. According to a Pew research study, between 15-20% of cooks, dishwashers, and busboys are undocumented workers. The fact is, immigrants take a lot of the labor-intensive jobs that other Americans don't want to do. If those workers were to disappear, the restaurants would either shut down or be forced fill these positions with workers who demand higher pay. Menu prices would start to climb to help pay the higher wages.
Restaurants across the country are taking action to let people know how much new immigration laws impact their businesses. Protests like A Day Without Immigrants showed consumers how businesses would look if there were no immigrants working there. Without a clear resolution in sight, immigration raids on restaurants will continue to happen, and the restaurant industry will continue to be impacted. Unfortuantly, some Americans do not see how immigration policies can affect their daily lives and their favorite restaurants. Hopefully it won't take our favorite restaurats shutting down to realize the important role all workers play in our lives and the US ecomomy. For more information on the latest happenings in the restaurant industry, contact us.
