House, Senate May Agree on Employer Sanctions, Verification | workforce.com

House, Senate May Agree on Employer Sanctions, Verification | workforce.com: "House, Senate May Agree on Employer Sanctions, Verification
Washington report: Increase in guest workers questionable as immigration negotiations begin, long conference committee fight likely.
By Mark Schoeff Jr. hen the controversy surrounding the proposed immigration reform legislation finally cools, provisions mandating employer verification of employee status and imposing harsh fines for hiring illegal workers are likely to be included in any bill that emerges from House-Senate negotiations.

The House legislation, backed in large part by conservatives, focuses only on border security and workplace enforcement. The Senate bill is comprehensive, containing enforcement measures and a guest worker program and providing a path toward permanent residency for millions of illegal immigrants.

In order to placate restive conservatives who fear voter backlash against what they call 'amnesty' for undocumented workers, the Senate can begin negotiations by highlighting the area where both sides largely agree—workplace enforcement.

Under the House bill, all employers must use a pilot electronic verification system for new hires within two years of the enactment of immigration legislation. The system would check applicants against Social Security records. Within six years, they would have to check all of their employees.

The Senate bill would make every employer submit new-hire data to the verification system within 18 months of the Department of Labor receiving funds, an estimated $400 million, to implement the system.

Both bills also would substantially increase fines for hiring illegal workers. Under the House bill, employers would have to pay as much as $40,000 per unauthorized worker, while the Senate sets the top fine at $20,000 per violation.

Even before the verification system is in place, companies may have to start changing thei"