Employers from across Iowa are taking part in a workshop in Webster City today (Monday) designed to educate them about immigrants and refugees in the workplace. Doug Bailey, president of the non-profit group All Cultures Equal, says many business leaders in the state could use a little more information on the subject. Bailey says he’d like to clear up some issues and misconceptions and encourage them to hire immigrants and refugees because of uncertainties. The seminar is called “Investing in New Iowans, Refugees and Immigrants in the Workplace.” Bailey says a large segment of Iowa’s workforce is nearing retirement age while Latinos and Asians are the fastest-growing segments in Iowa’s population. He says employers logically need to look to the new arrivals. “We have, no doubt, an aging population in Iowa and to maintain a workforce that is going to attract additional industry or perhaps encourage existing industry to expand, we really need to be looking at these folks who are extremely hard-working and extremely reliable people to employ,” Bailey says. He says some Iowans have misconceptions about the Latino and Asian populations. He says there are a number of stereotypes and situations in the news that point out problems, but the workshop aims to put realism and truth into those issues. Speakers include two attorneys who specialize in immigration and civil rights law. The workshop runs from 1 to 4 PM in Webster City. For more information, call Kathy Getting at (515) 832-4153.
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