Fines for employing illegal workers triple in government crackdown

Fines for businesses employing illegal workers have tripled under a government crackdown on rogue employers.

From 13 February, employers will face a penalty of £45,000 per worker for a first breach and £60,000 for repeat breaches. It is the first increase in the fines since 2014.

Home secretary James Cleverly previously said restaurants were an area of focus for enforcement activity.

He told Times Radio last month: "We go looking at places where we know people work illegally. So often in the clothing trade, sometimes in the restaurant trade, in the building trade.

“We know where these people go and typically work, often cash in hand, often undocumented, we go and find them, and we remove them.”

Since the start of 2018, more than 6,000 civil penalties have been issued to employers, with a total value of more than £105m. In the first eleven months of 2023, 1,471 penalties were issued to employers at a value of £26m.

Minister for countering illegal migration, Michael Tomlinson, said the government’s illegal working enforcement visits rose by nearly 70% last year.

“Carrying out the appropriate checks is simple, straightforward and a legal requirement – there is no excuse and those who don’t will face these stringent penalties,” said Tomlinson.

The government said the increased fines “better reflect the full financial advantage gained by those who profit by employing illegal migrants”.