About 30 employees, employer under scrutiny
November 13, 2011
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — A ceramics manufacturer in south Forsyth is involved in a federal criminal investigation by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security.
Vincent Picard, a spokesman for ICE's Homeland Security said on Oct. 26, agents "conducted an enforcement operation at Innovation Ceramics in Alpharetta."
Picard said he could not release additional details about the government's investigation. The business, 3020 Trotters Parkway in Alpharetta, makes and distributes tile products to building, designing and architectural communities and has been in operation for about nine years, a company employee who wanted to remain anonymous told the Forsyth Herald.
On Nov. 7, Innovation Ceramics President Hans J. Pracht did not want to comment about the federal investigation.
The company is trying to get employees' work documents in order for ICE officials, an employee told the Forsyth Herald. About 30 workers are being investigated.
"As this is an ongoing investigation, no other information is available at this time," Picard said.
Joseph A. Azar, an attorney representing about six of the workers at Innovation Ceramics who may qualify for political asylum, did not return requests for an interview.
Those close to the investigation said that when agents raiding the facility arrived Oct. 26, they discovered several employees working without their Social Security card.
Some of the 30 people were taken into custody. Many of the women, the number of workers is unconfirmed, were let go because they are mothers who had children in school, sources say.
Unlike a state criminal investigation, most of the documents, including search warrants involved in federal criminal investigations, are not subject to public disclosure laws, Picard said.
Picard said that companies have a number of options, including the ICE Mutual Agreement between Government and Employers (IMAGE) program, to find out "how to remain in compliance with the law and ensure they are following best practices in hiring."
According to the National Immigration Law Center, IMAGE raises a number of questions and concerns.
"The program's requirement that employers verify their employees' Social Security numbers through the Social Security Number Verification System and verify their employment eligibility through the Basic Pilot program are of particular concern," the immigrant advocacy group says. "Workers' advocates have long distrusted the accuracy of the Social Security Administration and DHS databases and have known that some unscrupulous employers abuse these programs."
Labels: Homeland Security, ICE, Innovation Ceramics in Alpharetta
# posted by
Brian Vanderhoff @ 8:58 AM
The Forsyth County Fire Department is reminding citizens to change the batteries in their smoke and carbon monoxide detectors as they set their clocks back an hour on Nov. 6, when daylight saving time ends.
"Replacing the batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors takes just a few minutes and could prove to be life-saving," said Danny Bowman, Forsyth County fire chief.
In addition to replacing the batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors every six months, fire officials also recommend testing the detectors at least once a month.
The units themselves should be replaced every eight to 10 years.
Smoke detectors should be installed on every level of your home, and they should be kept clean and free of dust.
The Fire Department's Public Safety Education Division provides battery-powered smoke detectors free of charge for senior citizens and residents in need.
To receive more details about this program, call Public Safety Educator Andrea Noble at 770-205-5699.
Labels: Daylight Savings, Smoke Detectors
# posted by
Brian Vanderhoff @ 8:57 AM
There are 50 call center job openings that need to be filled immediately in the North Fulton and Forsyth County area of Alpharetta.
Rodney Moore, president of Express Employment Professionals, said he is looking to fill the 50 openings at Vesta's call center in Alpharetta.
Vesta's customers include AT&T, Boost Mobile and T-Mobile.
The pay is between $9 and $10 dollars per hour; monthly bonuses and workers also qualify to enroll for health benefits program on their first week of the job. Positions are for part-time between 20 to 25 hours a week; or full-time.
"We have openings for workers to take inbound calls from AT&T customers, for example, and set them up for their electronic payments," Moore said.
The call center is open 24 hours a day and 7 days a week and it's a fun environment with advancement opportunities, Moore said.
"Some call centers are not pleasant places to work, but this is a brand new facility; great atmosphere and the company is all about treating people with respect. And it's a very fun work environment," Moore said. "We've had a number of people be promoted in less than six months."
Express Employment Professionals is an employment agency out of south Forsyth that works with area employers to fill open positions.
"When they have employee needs, they contact us and we work with them to find the right people for them," Moore said.
For more information on this or other employment opportunities, call 678-461-7600 or visit www.expresspros.com; fill out an application and forward to the Alpharetta, Ga. office when prompted.
Labels: Alpharetta, Alpharetta Jobs, Employment, Job Search, jobs
# posted by
Brian Vanderhoff @ 8:56 AM
