Fines for Hiring Illegal Workers are on the Rise

In the past few months, hiring illegal emigrants to work for companies has become a very risky affair. In fact, it has become an affair that is, not only risky, but very expensive. According to new figures that are out, a record number of 233 companies were fined just last year as the Government look to take full advantage of the new legislation that introduced the super high fee of £10,000 for each illegal worker employed by a company.

The number of companies that were charged this fine has increased almost five fold. Before 2008, only 40 companies were normally fined in any given year. In 2006, the government saw a record low of fines given out, as only 11 companies were fined.

The managing director of giant precision, Matthew Brown said that this new civil penalty has made a very big difference in the role of how many cases the UK Border Agency has chosen to take against employers.

Of course, employers are not the only ones that have had to be careful. Recruitment agencies that supply illegal staff to companies also risk the chance of being fined as well. All agencies, as well as employers, are required to carry out background checks by law. However, this was something that some companies and agencies were skipping out on.

Matthew went on to say that this new regulation is even tougher on employers and recruiters who do the background checks and are faked out by fraudulent documents. Although the employer did do the background check, if the UK Border Agency deems that the employers have not been sufficiently rigorous, then they can levy fines on them as well.