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Employers in the UK face new fines for illegal working |
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Businesses must source migrant labour through legal means or face
severe penalties, the Home Office announced today as part of its
comprehensive programme to reform Britain's immigration controls.
The Government is setting out new measures to prevent illegal working
following a consultation with UK businesses. Under a new system of
civil penalties, employers who negligently hire illegal workers could
face a maximum fine of £10,000 for each illegal worker found at a
business. If employers are found to have knowingly hired illegal
workers they could incur an unlimited fine and be sent to prison.
These measures, which take effect in February, will make it easier than
ever before for employers to carry out checks and for the Border and
Immigration Agency (BIA) to deal with non-compliance.
The civil penalties form part of the biggest immigration shake-up for
forty years, sitting alongside a programme of changes that will ensure
the system is fit for the future. Over the next 12 months BIA will also
introduce:
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* An Australian-style Points Based System to make sure only workers
with the skills to benefit Britain's economy come to the UK;
* A single border force bringing together the Border and Immigration
Agency, Customs and UK Visas providing a tougher, highly visible
policing presence at Britain's ports and airports;
* We will also introduce compulsory ID cards for foreign nationals
allowing us to know who is here and what they are entitled to. Rollout
will begin with Non EEA nationals first and extended to all foreign
nationals (including EU citizens) in due course ;
* The Government intends in the near future to issue ID / Residence
Permits to everyone who is in the UK for longer than 3 months,
including EU citizens;
Further information on ID cards is available from the Home Office Identity and Passport Service website: www.ips.gov.uk |
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