4 ms·

If you put a minimum wage that's significantly higher than the existing wage, then nobody'll employ prisoners. Why do you think the market's price in this case

If you put a minimum wage that's significantly higher than the existing wage, then nobody'll employ prisoners. Why do you think the market's price in this case is wrong or unfair?

weaksauce 10y ago
> paying prisoners a fair wage for their labor > then nobody'll employ prisoners I doubt that your conclusion follows this assertion. Paying prisoners a few dollars per hour vs. a few cents per hour is still a net win for the corporations. They might(not sure but knowing our system it's quite possible) get tax benefits for this too.
- witty_username 10y ago
  Then, wouldn't the corporations increase the price till all prisoners are working? I'm guessing many prisoners aren't working. Feel free to correct me here.
mattzito 10y ago
There's a value to the employer to pay minimum wage, while having a "captive" (pun somewhat intended) employee base who doesn't suddenly quit and can't go get a better job due to unrealistic demands.
- witty_username 10y ago
  No, the employer just needs to adjust wage so it's a bit higher than market price (in which case you'd get a less risk of suddenly quitting versus the average in the market). Or the employer can use golden handcuffs.
  - mattzito 10y ago
    I think you simultaneously overestimate the value the employer puts on call center employees and and the level of interest your typical call center employee has in keeping that job. A small amount of increase isn't going to help reduce turnover.
- sdenton4 10y ago
  Seriously, prison work schemes are modern indentured servitude, or if you like, slavery. Slave is what you call a captive employee, right? The difference now is that the state subsidizes the scheme by feeding and housing the slaves, and taking care of security. Paying a minimum wage is a start in the right direction, but ultimately the only moral endgame is abolishing forced labor and reducing the prison population drastically.
  - thescriptkiddie 10y ago
    It's not just metaphorical slavery, it's literal. The Thirteenth Amendment allows for the enslavement of prisoners. > Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.
kd0amg 10y ago
Is this really "the market's price" if workers are not allowed to choose their employers?

If you put a minimum wage that's significantly higher than the existing wage, then nobody'll employ prisoners. Why do you think the market's price in this case is wrong or unfair?

weaksauce 10y ago

> paying prisoners a fair wage for their labor > then nobody'll employ prisoners I doubt that your conclusion follows this assertion. Paying prisoners a few dollars per hour vs. a few cents per hour is still a net win for the corporations. They might(not sure but knowing our system it's quite possible) get tax benefits for this too.

witty_username 10y ago
Then, wouldn't the corporations increase the price till all prisoners are working? I'm guessing many prisoners aren't working. Feel free to correct me here.

mattzito 10y ago

There's a value to the employer to pay minimum wage, while having a "captive" (pun somewhat intended) employee base who doesn't suddenly quit and can't go get a better job due to unrealistic demands.

witty_username 10y ago
No, the employer just needs to adjust wage so it's a bit higher than market price (in which case you'd get a less risk of suddenly quitting versus the average in the market). Or the employer can use golden handcuffs.
- mattzito 10y ago
  I think you simultaneously overestimate the value the employer puts on call center employees and and the level of interest your typical call center employee has in keeping that job. A small amount of increase isn't going to help reduce turnover.
sdenton4 10y ago
Seriously, prison work schemes are modern indentured servitude, or if you like, slavery. Slave is what you call a captive employee, right? The difference now is that the state subsidizes the scheme by feeding and housing the slaves, and taking care of security. Paying a minimum wage is a start in the right direction, but ultimately the only moral endgame is abolishing forced labor and reducing the prison population drastically.
- thescriptkiddie 10y ago
  It's not just metaphorical slavery, it's literal. The Thirteenth Amendment allows for the enslavement of prisoners. > Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.

kd0amg 10y ago

Is this really "the market's price" if workers are not allowed to choose their employers?