The value of civil penalties issued by the Home Office for the six-month period 1 January to 30 June 2014 exceeded £10 million pounds with over £5 million issued within London and the South East region!
Every UK employer has a legal responsibility to ensure employees have a legal right work in the UK. In May 2014 the UKVI doubled the financial penalties for non-compliance. Now, an employer found to be employing illegal workers is liable for a civil penalty of up to £20,000 per illegal worker – unless they are able to evidence a statutory excuse* by having undertaken a “Right to Work Check”.
*Employers found to be knowingly employing illegal workers face an unlimited fine and the possibility of imprisonment for up to years.
Our Services
Gherson is an award winning, highly ranked (Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners), independent London based law firm specialising in UK immigration matters.
We are able to advise fully in respect of the prevention of illegal working rules and your responsibilities as a UK employer, including the documentation you must retain in order to evidence the fact you have undertaken a Right to Work Check.
We can attend at your offices to undertake a review of your HR polices, procedures and record keeping with a focus on the right to work check process or lack of!
We offer training to your HR personnel in respect of undertaking right to work checks correctly to ensure you have a statutory excuse against any potential civil penalties. Undertaking a partial check no longer reduces your civil penalty liability!!!
We also send regular updates and newsletters to our clients updating them in respect of changes to the UK Immigration Rules/Prevention of Illegal Working guidance.
For further information please contact us on 020 7724 4488.