As I write this article, I can imagine how many families are burdened with the agony of unemployment, causing some of their children to end up in the hands of adoption agencies or child-care institutions. Who would dare to allow this tragedy to happen in 21st century?

The most frequently asked question by the common man in Portland, Maine, is, “Who took our jobs?” Surprisingly, the answer is another query. Is it technology or staffing agencies acting as the middleman? In this letter I want draw your attention to the latter.

Assignments by staffing agencies do not ease this problem but instead leads to exploitation and sometimes undermining. Employees on the ground by staffing agencies are not entitled to benefits such as vacation, holiday pay, sick pay and others enjoyed by their hired counterparts. Enough training is rarely given to temps. This may also quicken their employment termination without any formal procedure.

The rate of hourly payment is low and not promising, even though temps do great work, sometimes far better than regular employees. How can a civilized community like ours accept such social malpractices by laying this blueprint on our workforce?

In summary, I urge intellectuals, policy makers, religious leaders and other groups of interest to hold hands in deciding whether we should blindly watch such social unfairness occur.

We must all work towards achieving an everlasting solution to this humiliating injustice in our community. Let us all support the temporary workers and help change laws to protect their interests.

Salat Naney,

Somalia