Restaurants named and shamed for employing illegal immigrants

Restaurants made up the vast majority of employers named and shamed by the Government yesterday for employing illegal immigrants.

As part of a wider crackdown the Home Office published the names of businesses that have been fined for using illegal immigrants on the UK Boarders Agency website.

During May alone, 35 businesses, and 37 company directors, were fined a total of £303,000 for employing 56 illegal workers.

27 of those businesses were restaurants and takeaways including Grapes Tandoori in Hayes, Middlesex, and the Spice Club in Torquay, Devon. No fines were issued for businesses in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The Home Office has said that a total of 265 fines have been imposed on businesses employing illegal labour since a new penalty system was introduced on 29 February 2008.

Under the new laws employers found to be using illegal migrant workers will be first served with a notice of liability before an Illegal Working Civil Penalty Unit decides whether to impose a fine of up to £10,000 per worker.

However, Conservative Shadow Home Secretary Dominic Grieve has argued that that putting names on a website is no substitute for action.

UK Borders Agency website full list >>

Civil penalties for employers: The new laws explained >>

Firms caught hiring illegal workers rises >>

Ethnic Catering Alliance to hold demo over immigration rules >>

Immigration officials must stop raiding restaurants at peak time >>

New immigration laws to target hospitality sector >>

By Christopher Walton

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