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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. John T. Galloway |
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Galloway's Job Protection Bills Advance in the House
HARRISBURG, Dec. 8 – A pair of bills sponsored by state Rep. John Galloway, D-Bucks, targeting dishonest contractors who deliberately hire illegal workers to gain an unfair competitive advantage, was voted unanimously from the House Labor Relations Committee today.
House Bills 1502 and 1503 are now poised for consideration by the full House.
"These bills are about saving Pennsylvania jobs," Galloway said. "By penalizing unscrupulous contractors who hire and abuse illegal workers, we can level the playing field for honest contractors who do the right thing and hire American workers and those legally authorized to work here."
House Bill 1502 would require state contractors and subcontractors that work on public projects to verify the employment eligibility of their employees, and H.B. 1503 would require all contractors in the construction industry to verify the employment eligibility of their employees. Both bills would require use of the Social Security Number Verification Service to verify existing employees, and the E-Verify Program for newly hired employees. Contractors who violate these rules could be debarred from state projects or, in the case of private construction work, may face forfeiture of state licenses or certifications.
"Too many good-paying jobs are being lost and many trades are being decimated by illegal and unfair practices that have afflicted the construction industry," Galloway said. "Illegal workers, because they are willing to work under the radar and for less pay, are taking construction trades jobs from well-trained and dedicated Pennsylvania workers. These bills are designed to help reverse this trend."
Galloway also said E-Verify may help to reduce current employment-related discrimination.
According to the Center for Immigration Studies, there are up to 175,000 illegal workers in Pennsylvania. It is also estimated that up to 18 percent of the construction workforce in this state is made up of illegal workers.
Both bills have bipartisan support in the House.
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