Return to poems on unemployment / employment   Return to poems on the ways of Centrelink Poems on specific subjects and themes   Return to home page

Book 36 Page 6

The labor cost market

 

Job applicant A

How many meals have you had today?

I have had three square meals today.

How much are you prepared to work for?

I am prepared to work for 600 dollars a week.

 

Job applicant B

How many meals have you had today?

I have had just one meal today.

How much are you prepared to work for?

I am prepared to work for 100 dollars a week.

 

Job applicant C

How many meals have you had today?

I have had no meals today.

How much are you prepared to work for?

I am prepared to work for 2 dollars a week.

 

I invite you to answer,

·       who do you think got the job?

·       how is that 600 dollar person ever gonna find a job?

 

“Poverty breeds poverty and exploitation.”

 

© Written by Dominic John Gill January 11, 2006 www.poetry.net.au  dominicj7@poetry.net.au