Takeaway facing fine for illegal worker

28 Mar 2012 | Posted by Carl Thomas

A takeaway is facing a fine for employing a worker who did not have the required UK work permit or visa.

Pizza Place, in Market Place, Grantham, was visited by UK Border Agency (UKBA) officers earlier this month (March 15th), with support from the Lincolnshire Police.

UKBA staff questioned the staff at the restaurant and discovered a 26-year-old Turkish man who was later revealed to be a failed asylum seeker.

The man was arrested and detained and action is now being taken to remove him from the country.

The restaurant, meanwhile, could be hit with a fine of up to £10,000 for employing an illegal worker unless it is able to prove that the required right-to-work checks were carried out before the individual started work.

Paul Tranter, of the UKBA Boston-based team, commented: "We are cracking down on illegal working which undercuts legitimate businesses and employees. We will take the strongest possible action against any business that is breaking the law by employing illegal workers, including a fine of up to £10,000 per illegal employee."

The arrest follows two further arrests in the area on March 1st when illegal workers were caught at the Chicken Palace on London Road.

Right-work-checks can be as simple as checking passports and UK work permit documents before hiring an employee.