They had no benefits. They didn't even think about that. Jonghun Kim, reporter for The Korea Central Daily News in Queens, New York. Shown above is Kum Lee, one of the many Korean immigrants in New York City who owns his own 24-hour greengrocery store. An immigrant is a person who comes to a country to take up permanent residence.
Minimum wage is the lowest wage paid or permitted to be paid.
Other benefits often include health insurance and vacation pay. Currently Mexicans and other immigrants, backed by an agressive campaign by Local 169 of the Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees, are complaining of mistreatment and violation of labor laws by these Korean immigrant store owners. The Mexican Workers Association, an advocacy group in New York City, began a series of boycotts and pickets at stores in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, in 1998 after hearing complaints about working conditions from greengrocer employees there. Local 169 joined the effort a few months later. Since then, the union has focused its efforts on Manhattan, where it is now leading boycotts and picketing at four Korean-owned stores.