Increases in fines for employing illegal workers
Joanna Rose · Posted on: October 23rd 2023 · read
From January 2024, the fines for employers who permit illegal migrants to work for them are to be increased threefold. The penalty for employers will increase from £15,000 up to £45,000 per illegal worker for a first breach, and from £20,000 and up to £60,000 for repeat breaches.
Since January 2018, almost 5,000 civil penalties have been issued to employers. In addition, employers can be liable to criminal prosecution and face a sentence of five years’ imprisonment if they know, or have reasonable cause to believe, that the worker does not have permission to be in the UK; has overstayed their leave to remain; is performing a type of work for which they do not have permission; or have falsified their documents in any way.
The UK government publish a quarterly list of employers who have been fined for hiring illegal workers. The latest list includes the following:
| Trading name | Location | Penalty |
|---|---|---|
| Adega | London | £15,000 |
| Taksim Lounge Ltd | London | £15,000 |
| Nisa Local | London | £10,000 |
| White Horse | Surrey | £15,000 |
| So Beautified Salon | Greater London | £15,000 |
| Golden Scissors | London | £15,000 |
| Hildenborough Square Ltd | Surrey | £10,000 |
| Cozzy Lounge | Middx | £15,000 |
| London Quality Fisheries | London | £15,000 |
| British Hand Car Wash | Newport | £10,000 |
| Hungry Eye Indian Restaurant | Kent | £10,000 |
| Multi Facility Services Ltd | Greater London | £10,000 |
| N&J Consults Ltd | Greater London | £15,000 |
| Nona Restaurant | Greater London | £20,000 |
| Norwood Manor Day Nursery Limited | Greater London | £15,000 |
| 8 Till Late (Polski Sklep) | Hounslow | £15,000 |
| Orchid Garden | Kent | £30,000 |
| Redhouse Chinese Takeaway | Kent | £20,000 |
| Pizza Go Go | Croydon | £15,000 |
| Share 2 Care Ltd | Hampshire | £10,000 |
| Fat Pizza Basildon | Essex | £15,000 |
| Taco Bell | London | £10,000 |
| Greek Souvlaki | Kent | £10,000 |
| Cell Fone City | Greater London | £10,000 |
| Vindaloo Indian Takeaway | Hampshire | £10,000 |
As well as the financial penalties, this obviously also causes a reputational risk to businesses. The list is public and also may lead to a business being reported in the media.
HR Solutions can advise on Right to Work in the UK checks. We can also conduct them on your behalf; this is particularly useful for if you are a business with overseas ownership and / or remote workers where it is difficult for you to conduct the check yourself.
