Pallet and container pooling service provider CHEP is partnering with the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement to manage and monitor their 7,000-member workforce.

CHEP, which issues, collects, conditions and reissues more than 300 million pallets and containers, will use the agreement to help ensure that all employees are "legitimately in the country and eligible to work," according to Thomasina Kennedy, Director of Human Resources Operations. 

The company signed the ICE Mutual Agreement between Government and Employers (IMAGE) last month at the ICE headquarters in Washington, joining 26 other companies.

"First and foremost, CHEP understands the need to develop a more secure and stable workforce," Kennedy told Modern.

By participating in the program, the company is working to reduce unauthorized employment and the use of fraudulent identity documents. Kennedy said as part of IMAGE, ICE and the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) are providing CHEP education and training on hiring procedures, fraudulent document detection, use of the E-Verify employment eligibility verification program and anti-discrimination procedures.

Kennedy said CHEP, which operates in 45 countries, is looking into other similar opportunities abroad, and is encouraging other partners to become involved with the IMAGE program.

Allison Manning is Associate Editor of Modern Materials Handling, LM's sister publication