SLC Chamber proposes immigrant worker program

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - The Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce has proposed a guest worker program that it says could help improve Utah's economy.

The program presented Wednesday at a Capitol legislative meeting would create a two-year, renewable guest worker authorization for foreign workers and undocumented immigrants living in Utah. The workers would have to register with a government agency and pass a security check and medical screening.

Chamber Public Policy Director Wesley Smith says the program still needs to get waivers of federal regulations to give Utah the right to issue temporary work permits, enforce federal and state immigration law and to give payroll withholdings to the state to cover health insurance and administrative costs.

Smith says the immigration law enforcement efforts would be necessary to stop a possible influx of undocumented workers who may be attracted to the Utah program.
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Information from: Deseret News

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