The Department of Homeland Security has announced its decision to change its employment eligibility verification process from the proposed “no-match” rule to the electronic e-verify system.
Secretary of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano, explains that the department will forgo its 2007 decision to install the “no-match” rule, which gives employers more responsibility to look into employees’ suitability if they receive a no-match letter from the federal government regarding an employee.
The E-Verify program works in conjunction with the Social Security Administration. The department states that the alternate method will locate and investigate employees’ data inconsistencies and more thoroughly and quickly than the “no-match” rule. Also, more responsibility will reside with the government rather than private employers.
The American Subcontractors Association supports the measure. In April 2008, the association officially submitted concerns over extra costs and paperwork the “no-match” rule required. In August 2008, it submitted statements that all federal scale projects should necessitate E-Verify.
The ASA has supplied an E-Verify fact sheet explaining the rules on its Web site at www.asaonline.com under the ASA Federal Advocacy link. In sum, all federal solicitations and contracts over $100,000 and expected to last longer than 120 days will require contractors to use E-Verify to check employees’ histories. Also, prime contractors must apply the E-Verify method to subcontracts worth at least $3,000.
For more information, call ASA at (703) 684-3450, ext. 1333 or send an e-mail at [email protected].
