Oops, my stats are for $15, not $12, thanks.

My own workplace doesn't have many immigrants, but most of the jobs were outsourced to Asia a few years ago, and the workers who were left had their pay cut. I think our tax laws encourage that sort of thing more than they used to.

As for owing, I do think that employers owe their workers a living. Not wealth, but a basic living. It seems like that used to be assumed.