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SMEs bosses 'must check workers are legal'

Published On 22 May 2007 at 12:11:26

The bosses of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the UK need to make sure all their employees have the right to work in the country, according to legal experts.

As the EU debates plans to crackdown on companies which employ illegal immigrants, law firm DWF has warned employers to act to make sure their staff all have the right to work.

Ansar Ali of DWF explained that SME bosses who hire illegal immigrants could face the "risk of a fine or even a jail sentence" and also be "liable for any unpaid taxes and social security payments".

He added that the new system would mean "employers would have to check that anyone they hired had a residence permit, and businesses would have to notify national authorities.

"The EU is also seeking a five-fold increase in the number of spot checks on companies."

It is currently estimated that eight million people are working illegally in the UK at the moment and Mr Ali said employers should act to reduce this figure.

"It is crucial that employers carry out appropriate checks as part of the recruitment process," he explained.

"They must ensure that people they are hiring have the right to work in the UK currently, and in the future when any further changes are introduced."

However, activists recently said that it would be "impractical and immoral" to deport all the illegal workers in the UK.

 

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