A work card is like an
identity card
An identity document (also called ID or colloquially as papers) is any documentation, document that may be used to prove a person's identity. If issued in a small, standard credit card size form, it is usually called an identity card (IC, ID c ...
which verifies that a person has been given work, or is eligible to perform work in a given profession or jurisdiction. The work card is not a
work visa, although it may be used in conjunction with a work visa,
permanent resident card or other documentation.
Work cards are often used in countries with high
unemployment
Unemployment, according to the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development), is people above a specified age (usually 15) not being in paid employment or self-employment but currently available for Work (human activity), w ...
to certify that the individual meets certain legal requirements (such as head of household, or with dependent children) making him or her eligible for work.
Work cards are also used in certain industries like
construction
Construction is a general term meaning the art and science to form objects, systems, or organizations,"Construction" def. 1.a. 1.b. and 1.c. ''Oxford English Dictionary'' Second Edition on CD-ROM (v. 4.0) Oxford University Press 2009 and com ...
(where specialized training and safety skills are required) or
gambling
Gambling (also known as betting or gaming) is the wagering of something of value ("the stakes") on a random event with the intent of winning something else of value, where instances of strategy are discounted. Gambling thus requires three el ...
(where background and credit checks are required to reduce the incidence of crime). In Brazil, workers' cards (carteira de trabalho) are signed by employers as a guarantee and recognition that workers are to receive rights and benefits. The cards differentiate employees who work on a cash basis from those who are entitled to receive protections like sick days, social security, and vacation days.
Work cards are used in some employment situations, such as
prostitution
Prostitution is the business or practice of engaging in Sex work, sexual activity in exchange for payment. The definition of "sexual activity" varies, and is often defined as an activity requiring physical contact (e.g., sexual intercourse, n ...
, so that government officials may track the number of workers in a given industry. Frequent renewal of work cards may also be required to ensure that workers undergo regular health check-ups, or to gather information on working conditions or the incident of crime (such as assault against the prostitute, or a prostitute's criminal background).
Work cards are increasingly used in the
European Union
The European Union (EU) is a supranational political and economic union of member states that are located primarily in Europe. The union has a total area of and an estimated total population of about 447million. The EU has often been des ...
(EU) to verify an individual's citizenship in a member-nation, and the kind of work which that individual may engage in. For example, citizens of states with provisional membership in the EU must obtain both an EU work card and a work card from nation in which they wish to work.
In cases where a union has won the
closed shop
A pre-entry closed shop (or simply closed shop) is a form of union security agreement under which the employer agrees to hire union members only, and employees must remain members of the union at all times to remain employed. This is different fro ...
, a work card may be issued by a
trade union
A trade union (labor union in American English), often simply referred to as a union, is an organization of workers intent on "maintaining or improving the conditions of their employment", ch. I such as attaining better wages and benefits ( ...
. The work card will permit the non-union worker to work in the industry or for the employer with union permission.
[Lahane, "The Union Work Permit," ''Political Science Quarterly,'' September 1951.]
See also
*
Work permit
Notes
References
*"ACLU Still Critical of State's Work Card Proposal." ''Gambling Magazine.'' September 10, 2002.
*"County Rethinks Work Card Requirements." ''Gambling Magazine.'' April 3, 2001.
*"Employees Need a Work Card Permit." ''Westmoreland Gazette.'' January 19, 2007.
*Lahane, Herbert J. "The Union Work Permit." ''Political Science Quarterly.'' 66:3 (September 1951).
*''Workers Performing Specialized Construction Work.'' Jobs Protection Office, Ontario Ministry of Labour. August 2006. {{ISBN, 1-4249-1931-2
Labor
Identity documents