Oregon Public Broadcasting

Available workers far outnumbered employers offering jobs at the opening of Portland’s first day labor site Monday.

Out of about 75 workers, only two were hired in the first four hours the center was open. 

Day labor organizers say it’s common for these types of places to get off to a slow start.

Justin Shear is the assistant coordinator at Portland’s day labor site.  He says ultimately the center will provide a more formalized process than hiring workers off the street.

Justin Shear: “When you look for work on the street, it’s kind of whoever can pile in the car the fastest.  And a lot of times people don’t know what kind of job they’re going out on.  They don’t know how much they’re gonna get paid, you know, because of the language barrier.”

Portland’s day labor site was funded by a two-hundred-thousand dollar grant from the city and is located on land owned by the Portland Development Commission.

Opponents of the site say workers are not required to prove they’re in the country legally and that public funds should not be used for such projects.