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Beaufort
County Lays Down the Law on Employers of Illegal WorkersBy Diane Adams
On December 27, in what some are calling an improperly hurried hearing, Beaufort County Council approved the county's new "Lawful Employment Ordinance". The ordinance, taking effect Jan. 1, 2008, is designed to discourage businesses from hiring illegal workers.
This new legislation takes aim at companies that hire illegal workers, requiring a signed attestation from applicants for business licenses stating that they do not knowingly employ illegal immigrants. The law does not mandate participation in the Basic Pilot program; however, the county seems to encourage businesses to participate in the program as a possible deterrent to the unintentional hiring of undocumented employees.
All businesses located within the unincorporated areas of the county are subject to the ordinance, which includes possible audits of their hiring documents. It is not yet clear how the county intends to enforce the law, or what criteria it will use to judge what constitutes the deliberate hiring of illegal workers. An employer that does not comply with the ordinance can be subject to fines and the possible revocation of its business license.
The Beaufort Ordinance (PDF)
Beaufort Emergency Remediation