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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1990
J
DISCUSS HEAVIER
ONE OF THE MAIN OBJECTIVES OF THE SEMINAR WAS TO RECENTLY ENACTED AMENDMENTS TO THE ORDINANCE WHICH INCLUDED PENALTIES FOR THE EMPLOYERS OF II'S BUT ALSO PROVIDED FOR A DEFENCE FOR THOSE WHO COULD SHOW THAT ALL PRACTICABLE STEPS HAD BEEN TAKEN TO DETERMINE WHETHER WORKERS WERE LAWFULLY EMPLOYABLE AND TO PREVENT II'S FROM BEING ON A CONSTRUCTION SITE.
MR STRACHAN SAID WHILE THE GOVERNMENT WAS PREPARED TO PROPOSE GUIDELINES IN RESPONSE TO REQUESTS FROM INDUSTRY, HE STRESSED THAT WHAT AMOUNTED TO "ALL PRACTICABLE STEPS" WOULD BE FOR THE COURTS TO DETERMINE IN EACH CASE.
HE SUGGESTED THAT EMPLOYERS COULD CHECK THE DETAILS OF AN IDENTITY CARD AGAINST OTHER SUPPORTING EVIDENCE SUCH AS BANK BOOK, DRIVING LICENCE AND CREDIT CARDS.
**THEY CAN SCRUTINISE THE PHOTOGRAPH ON THE IDENTITY CARD CAREFULLY AGAINST THE PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYEE AND CHECK THE AGE RECORDED.
**THEY CAN ALSO INSTITUTE IDENTITY CHECKS AT RANDOM TIMES AND
SPOT CHECK PEOPLE ENTERING THE PREMISES.
MR STRACHAN ALSO SUGGESTED THAT EMPLOYERS COULD MAKE CONDITION OF ENTRY, ESPECIALLY TO A CONSTRUCTION. SITE, CONTINGENT ON PRODUCTION OF AN IDENTITY CARD AND INFORM EMPLOYEES THAT FAILURE TO PRODUCE A CARD WOULD RESULT IN EXPULSION FROM THE SITE.
"RECORDS OF IDENTITY CARDS PRODUCED AND THE RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS GIVEN SHOULD BE KEPT."
MR STRACHAN OFFERED SOME ADDITIONAL PARTICULARLY RELEVANT TO CONSTRUCTION SITES:
SUGGESTIONS WHICH WERE
MAKE IT KNOWN TO SUB-CONTRACTORS THAT IF THEY EMPLOY II'S THEY WILL RECEIVE NO FURTHER WORK FROM THE COMPANY;
MAKE IT A BREACH OF CONTRACT FOR A SUB-CONTRACTOR TO EMPLOY AN II;
PUT UP SIGNS OR POSTERS STATING THAT II'S WILL NOT BE EMPLOYED ON THE SITE AND ANY FOUND WILL BE REPORTED TO THE POLICE;
POST SIGNS THAT STATE NO ONE WILL BE ALLOWED TO REMAIN ON THE SITE IF THEY REFUSE TO PRODUCE THEIR IDENTITY CARD WHEN REQUESTED BY A SUPERVISOR;
TELL SUB-CONTRACTORS THEY MUST KEEP A FULL LIST OF WORKERS' NAMES AND IDENTITY CARD NUMBERS WHICH MUST BE PRODUCED TO THE SITE OFFICE DAILY;
SECURE THE SITE AT NIGHT AND TELL THE SECURITY GUARD THAT NO ONE IS ALLOWED TO SLEEP ON THE SITE;
/- OFFER A
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