New Penalties for Employing Illegal Workers
29 Feb 2008
From 29 February 2008 two new offences came into force under the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006. These are as follows:
- An employer who negligently hires an illegal worker will be liable for a civil penalty of up to £10,000 unless it has checked certain documentation before recruiting. Employers who acquire staff as a result of a Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) transfer get a period of 28 days grace in which to undertake appropriate document checks.
- Employers who knowingly hire an illegal worker commit a criminal offence and will be liable to a custodial sentence of up to 2 years and/or an unlimited fine.