Home Office crackdown on right to work breaches: Alan Lewis comments in People Management

A nationwide immigration enforcement operation targeting illegal working in food delivery sector saw a number of arrests last month, as part of the Home Office’s crackdown on illegal migration. It seems this is the first wave in a continuing operation as enforcement teams have been allocated further funding to continue their work.

Employers need to ensure that they are maintaining legal compliance to avoid risking heavy fines of up to £60,000 per illegal worker and potential criminal charges for serious breaches.

Commenting to People Management, Constantine Law partner, Alan Lewis, emphasised the critical role of proper right to work checks: “Employers must check [document] validity in the presence of the candidate, or by using approved online methods, and they must keep clear and secure copies for the length of employment plus two additional years”.

HR teams must have clear processes in place to mitigate these risks and ensure that sufficient and appropriate training in the legal implications is given.

Read Alan's further comments here.