The blue-collar workforce forms a significant part of India’s economy. According to the latest reports, over 450 million workers are in blue-collar jobs across various sectors, including construction, manufacturing, logistics, and domestic. Blue-collar crimes are those which relate to violent activities such as murder, sexual assault, and armed robbery. It also involves nonviolent actions such as prostitution, unlawful gambling, and so on.
The genuine offenders are the people who the public has seen and identified. Although the term “blue-collar crime” is sometimes used to contrast illegal activities with white-collar crime, it is not a legal term. Crimes classified as “blue-collar” are more frequently committed by members of society’s lower socioeconomic strata.
The foundation for the country’s growth and development is its workforce. This workforce is huge, and ensuring its reliability and trustworthiness is a big challenge. This is where worker verification comes into play.
Worker Verification: What is it And What is Included?
Before hiring a worker, checking his identity and background is crucial. Worker verification is the process of thoroughly checking and confirming potential employees’ background, identity, and qualifications before being hired. It aims to ensure that the individuals being considered for employment are trustworthy, qualified, and suitable for the role they are being hired for. Worker verification typically includes several components:
Background Checks: involve verifying the candidate’s criminal record, if any, to ensure they do not pose a security risk to the organization. They may also include verification of education credentials, past employment history, and professional certifications.
Identity Verification: Ensuring that the candidate’s identity documents, such as Aadhaar card, PAN card, or driver’s license, are genuine and match the information provided by the candidate.
Address Verification: Confirm the candidate’s residential address to ensure they have provided accurate information and are reachable for communication purposes.
Employment History Verification: This involves checking the candidate’s past employment details, including positions held, duration of employment, and reasons for leaving previous jobs, to assess their work experience and suitability for the role.
Reference Checks: Contact the candidate’s former employers or references provided by the candidate to gather insights into their work ethic, skills, and performance in previous roles.
Drug Testing: In some industries, especially those involving safety-critical roles or positions where employees handle hazardous substances, drug testing may be conducted to ensure a drug-free workplace.
Document Verification: Verifying other documents provided by the candidate, such as academic transcripts, certificates, and professional licenses, to ensure their authenticity.
Worker Verification: Essential for Curbing Blue-Collar Crimes
Worker verification plays a pivotal role in preventing blue-collar crimes by establishing a foundation of trust and integrity within the workforce. Here’s how:
For Screening Criminal History
Worker verification involves conducting thorough background checks on potential employees to uncover any past criminal activities. By identifying individuals with a history of criminal behaviour, employers can mitigate the risk of hiring someone who may pose a threat to the workplace.
Screening for criminal history helps prevent incidents of theft, embezzlement, or other fraudulent activities in the workplace. By weeding out individuals with a propensity for dishonesty or illegal behaviour, employers can safeguard their assets and finances.
For Identity Verification
Worker verification includes verifying the identity of job applicants through official documents such as government-issued IDs or biometric data. This helps prevent cases of identity theft or impersonation, which could be used to gain unauthorized access to sensitive areas or information within the workplace. By ensuring that employees are who they claim to be, employers can maintain accountability and traceability within the organization. This reduces the likelihood of individuals evading responsibility for their actions or engaging in illicit activities under false identities.
For Reliability and Trustworthiness
Worker verification involves validating the employment history of candidates to assess their reliability and trustworthiness. By confirming past work experience and performance, employers can make informed decisions about hiring individuals with a proven track record of integrity and professionalism. Contacting previous employers or references provided by the candidate offers insights into their work ethic, character, and behaviour. This helps employers gauge the candidate’s suitability for the job and identify any red flags that may indicate a potential risk of misconduct.
For a Safe Environment
By ensuring that only trustworthy and reliable individuals are hired, worker verification helps create a safer work environment. Employees with a clean record are less likely to engage in risky or harmful behaviour that could jeopardize the safety of their colleagues or the workplace itself. Preventing incidents of theft, fraud, or other blue-collar crimes not only safeguards the company’s assets but also protects its reputation and brand image. A workplace known for its commitment to integrity and security is more attractive to customers, investors, and prospective employees alike.
People Also Read: How To Choose A Reliable Background Verification Service?
Final Words
In essence, worker verification acts as a proactive measure to identify and mitigate potential risks before they escalate into serious blue-collar crimes. By establishing a culture of accountability, trust, and transparency, employers can create a safer and more secure workplace for everyone. Collaborate with HR tech companies to streamline your worker verification process and build a reliable workforce you can trust.
Download the Gigin app for more details!
