This article examines the recent Home Office publication on penalties for employing illegal workers.

Illegal working penalties

The Home Office has published information on penalties imposed on employers for employing illegal workers. In addition to fines of up to £20,000 per illegal worker, employers have been named and shamed. The list features a large number of catering establishments. Whilst many are small businesses, the list also includes franchise brands such as Papa John’s. The NAO recently criticised enforcement teams for focusing too much on restaurants and fast food outlets, so it will be interesting to see if there is more variety in enforcement action in the next quarter.

Birketts offers a ‘Right to Work’ checks master class aimed at members of the HR team and front line managers. For further details please contact Clare Hedges, Senior Associate, Head of Immigration.

This article is from the June 2019 issue of Employment and Immigration Law Update, our monthly newsletter on employment legislation and regulation. To download the latest issue, please visit the newsletter section of our website. Law covered as at June 2019.

For further information please contact Janice Leggett in our Immigration Team.