Work cards are often used in countries with high unemployment 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 (where specialized training and safety skills are required)[1] or gambling (where background and credit checks are required to reduce the incidence of crime).
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.
[3] Work cards are used in some employment situations, such as prostitution, 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).