The Illegal Immigration and Reform Act, signed into law by Gov. Mark Sanford in June 2008, aims to crack down on the hiring of illegal immigrants by business and industry in the state.

The S.C. Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation will hold a training seminar on the new law for employers at Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College on Thursday. The free seminar will be held from 10 a.m. to noon at the Auditorium Building R.

The law requires all employers to verify the legal status of new employees and prohibits employment of any worker who is not legally in this country and authorized to work.

LLR will investigate complaints and randomly audit companies. The agency cannot investigate complaints or conduct audits until July 1, 2009 at businesses employing 100 or more workers, and July 1, 2010 at businesses employing fewer than 100 workers.

The statute sets penalties, including fines and loss of business licenses, for failing to get verification and for knowingly hiring an illegal immigrant.

For more information, visit the Web site, www.llr.state.sc.us/immigration. Visitors can review the law, get updates as regulations are drafted, review frequently asked questions and learn about future training in their area.

T&D Staff Writer Gene Zaleski can be reached by e-mail at gzaleski@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5551.

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