Bethnal Green restaurateurs disqualified for employing illegal workers

Two directors have been disqualified for six years after illegal workers were found in their restaurant in Bethnal Green, London.

Salahuddin Sahibzada and Muhammad Anjum were directors of Pakistani restaurant New Lahore Express at 265 Bethnal Green Road. On 18 April 2016 Home Office Immigration Enforcement Officers discovered that the company was employing five illegal workers.

Sahibzada was disqualified from 25 September 2017 and Anjum from 3 October 2017 for a period of six years which restricts them from being a director in any company for the duration.

The company went into liquidation on 17 August 2016 owing creditors £90,973 which includes a penalty of £30,000 which was imposed by the Home Office Immigration and Enforcement for employing illegal workers.

Commenting on the disqualification, Martin Gitner, deputy head of Investigations, West Midlands said: "Illegal workers are not protected under employment law, and as well as cheating legitimate job seekers out of employment opportunities these employers defraud the tax payer and undercut honest competitors.

"The Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006, makes employers responsible for preventing illegal workers in the UK. To comply with the law, a company must check and be able to prove documents have been checked prior to recruitment that show a person is entitled to work.

"The public has a right to expect that those who break the law will face the consequences and this should serve as a warning to other directors tempted to take on illegal staff."

Surrey restaurant faces £60,000 fine for employing illegal workers >>

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Restaurant boss banned for seven years for employing illegal workers >>

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