UK Home Office started to crack down on illegal working

During a week-long nationwide intensive operation into illegal labour, the Home Office has targeted hundreds of rogue employers around the United Kingdom.

Last month, Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, declared that in addition to taking significant steps to dismantle the criminal networks that bring these workers into the country, the government will take tough measures against dishonest companies who bring in illegal workers and take advantage of weaker individuals.

Immigration Enforcement teams conducted focused inspections to rogue businesses suspected of hiring undocumented workers during a busy week of operations that ran from Sunday, August 18, to Saturday, August 24, with a concentration on car washes.

More than 275 locations were targeted during the investigation, and 135 of them received notifications for hiring undocumented workers. 85 undocumented labourers have also been taken into custody.

Illegal workers frequently live in appalling conditions on the job site, get much less money than the minimum wage in the UK, put in more hours than is permitted by law, and may have entered the country unlawfully, overstayed their visas, or came as visitors.

Their cheap compensation also enables their employers to undercut law-abiding, sincere competitors, who frequently fail to pay their fair share of taxes and so hinder economic growth.

This operation is a component of a bigger, ongoing campaign in the UK to combat vulnerable person exploitation and illegal employment. This type of operation will be carried out again soon.

Employers that lack integrity may face severe financial consequences. Employing unauthorised workers carries a maximum civil penalty of £45,000 for a first infringement and £60,000 for subsequent infractions.

In order to enable workers to report labour exploitation, Immigration Enforcement teams collaborate closely with the Gangmasters, Labour Abuse Authority, and other agencies, playing a crucial role in protecting.

Yvette Cooper, the home secretary, stated:

The idea that dishonest employers can collude with smugglers to put people’s lives in danger in order to bring them into the country illegally and force them into employment that isn’t officially recorded is totally false.

The gangs sell these workers outright lies, forcing them to live and work in horrible conditions for meagre pay. That is precisely why we have initiated crackdowns like these: we are committed to stopping this.

Even though this operation is a significant step in the right direction, we remain committed to solving this problem. We’ll make sure the full weight of the law is applied to those who disobey the rules.

Eddy Montgomery, Director of Enforcement, Compliance, and Crime at Immigration Enforcement, stated:

The operation this week demonstrates the Home Office’s commitment to safeguarding the weak and holding employers responsible.

Our commitment is to halting the exploitation of vulnerable individuals by criminal gangs, guaranteeing that they receive the necessary assistance, and enforcing severe penalties for lawbreakers.

I’m really proud of all of our teams around the nation for their dedication to working together to plan and carry out this nationwide operation.