A company in Louisiana that is accused of wrongdoing when hiring workers can face a litany of problems defending itself. This is particularly problematic when there is a legal filing from the U.S. government. Companies have various policies when finding workers, and allegations are often inevitable. Regardless of the situation, these companies must make certain that they are protected under the law. Employers are accorded the same protections as workers under employment law. Understanding and exercising this right is vital to the maintenance and success of any business.
A lawsuit filed against a shipyard labor contractor based in Louisiana was filed by the U.S. Department of Justice. It alleges that the company committed violations of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) with acts of discrimination. Applications and employees were said to have been eliminated based on citizenship. The company, which provides shipyard workers on a contract basis, is alleged to have limited the documents prospective workers could give to show that they are eligible to work in the U.S.
The INA says that workers have the right to choose the valid documentation they will show when seeking work and there is no connection to their citizenship status that regulates it. The company that hired the contracted workers is also liable because it employs the workers the company provides them. The law is designed to provide protection to U.S. citizens and those who are not U.S. citizens, but are seeking work in this country legally.
This legal filing is troublesome for the company because it makes assertions that they were unlawfully discriminating against immigrants in their hiring practices. That it extends to the company for which it provided workers makes it appear worse. While a lawsuit filed by the U.S. DOJ can strike fear in any company large or small, that does not mean that the accusations are valid. Companies need to protect themselves from any legal filing and assertion of wrongdoing by discussing a case with a legal professional experienced in a wide variety of business matters.
Source: marinelog.com. “Shipyard labor contractor allegedly broke eligibility verification rules,” July 26, 2017
