:: Equity Group dismisses 200 undocumented employees
Officials from Equity Group say undocumented workers who clear Social Security discrepancies will be able to return to work.
In a press release sent Monday morning, officials with the Equity Eufaula plant stated the company is, "making certain that its employees are legally qualified to work in the United States."
Last week the plant announced it was letting go more than 200 migrant workers because they had documentation issues.
"Since purchasing the facility in 2004, Equity Eufaula has voluntarily participated in the Department of Homeland Security's Basic Pilot Program, which verifies employment eligibility," Equity's press release states. "It also verifies the identification of all prospective employees, including requiring completion of the required I-9 form.
"Equity Eufaula was notified by the Social Security Administration that approximately 200 of its employees' names did not match the Social Security Administration database, even though these employees had already been cleared through the federal government's Basic Pilot Program.
All affected employees were provided 60 days to clear up these discrepancies. The company is continuing to follow up with the affected employees to determine what efforts they have made to resolve these discrepancies and to comply with the law."
The release later states, "All employees who resolve their discrepancies to fully comply with the law can return to work.
"We respect our government laws and regulations and we see our employees as our most important asset. We will continue to make responsible decisions on these matters as we operate in a compliant manner and support our community and our employees."
Keystone Foods bought the plant from Thai-based Charoen Pokphand USA in March of 2004. Equity Group-Eufaula Division, LLC started re-examining the I-9 documentation of existing employees as immigration legislation has continued to stall in the U.S. Congress and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement division of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has stepped up investigations of businesses suspected of employing immigrants with false documentation.
Although Equity Group uses the Lake Area Career Center in Eufaula for screening applicants who can show two valid forms of identification, it is the responsibility of the employer to verify the validity of the documentation.
