EMPLOYMENT LAW: US Legislators to Require E-Verify Use

June 13, 2011

Washington -- The House subcommittee will convene on Wednesday to discuss the "Legal Workforce Act" bill that promotes the use of E-Verify in detecting illegal workers in United States.

The legislators will debate on how Lamar Smith's bill can screen undocumented employees and qualify as an amendment to the Immigration and Nationality Act. The bill includes provisions on the mandatory and permanent use of E-verify among companies, according to reports.

Reports said that the E-Verify system will screen identification of workers and will release information on available employment documents. Such database and monitoring system aims to detect illegal aliens who are trying to apply for jobs in US. The new equipment strives to help American citizens and legal workers gain priority application on the scarce job openings.

Critics contested that the E-Verify system may affect three to four million workers who have not completed their legal employment documents. The agricultural sector, which employs mostly seasonal workers, may be compelled to lay off the majority of its workers. Also, the E-Verify may contain database errors and misjudge at least 770,000 tracked workers.

The legislators will also discuss reported complaints from Arizona wherein E-Verify system has been implemented already. The House subcommittee will review cases wherein illegal workers resort to moving into the cash economy, employers who tamper on the system, and companies who refuse to use E-Verify.

The "Legal Workforce Act" bill has sparked protest from US Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Florida Chamber of Commerce. The two groups have raised issues on discrimination among workers with mixed race and among seasonal workers. Also, they reiterated its greater harm on the economy.