15 December 2009

Seventeen workers found in Hayes without a valid UK Visa

A UK Border Agency raid on a Hayes firm found 17 illegal workers, and the firm facing a possible fine of up to £170,000.

The agency has had an ongoing clampdown on illegal workers in the west London area, including a large advertising campaign warning bosses of the fines they face if caught employing workers without a valid UK Visa.

The 17 men, aged between 22 and 49, were arrested for a range of UK immigration offences and the UK Border Agency will now seek to deport them back to their home countries.

Under UK immigration rules employers face a fine of up to £10,000 per illegal worker, unless they can prove that they carried out the correct right-to-work checks when employing staff.

Inspector Dick Stratton of the UK Border Agency said illegal working has a serious impact on communities, taking jobs from those who are genuinely allowed to work.

“We are happy to work with businesses to ensure they know what checks have to be done on staff, but those who do break the law will face action.

“My officers will continue to target illegal working to reduce the attractiveness of the area to illegal immigrants, and more operations are planned in the future,” he said. 

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The UK Visa Bureau is an independent consulting company specialising in helping people lodge their UK Visa applications at the British Embassy.