UK Immigration News

11 June 2009

Nine immigration offenders have been found at five businesses in Swansea, Carmarthenshire and the Swansea Valley in a series of UK Border Agency operations targeting illegal working.

On Wednesday, 10 June, officers from the Agency visited Ming Kee Chinese takeaway, 5 Wern Road, Ystalyfera.

After the immigration status of staff was checked, all four on duty were found to be illegal workers.

A Malaysian couple who had overstayed their visas, a 26-year-old Chinese man had entered the United Kingdom illegally and a 38-year-old Chinese man was a failed asylum seeker who had not left the United Kingdom as required when his claim for international protection was turned down.

The Malaysian man remains in immigration detention ahead of his removal from the United Kingdom and the other three offenders will be removed from the UK as soon as emergency passports are secured.

The takeaway was forced to close for the evening because no members of staff remained on site following the UK Border Agency visit.

Officers then visited Clase Stores, Solva Road, Clase, entering at about 20:20pm.

There, a 36-year-old Indian man, who had entered the United Kingdom illegally, was found stacking shelves.

A 37-year-old Indian man, who had also entered the country illegally, was then found at Premier Stores, 96 Rheidol Avenue, Clase, after officers visited at about 9pm.

Both men will be removed from the United Kingdom once emergency travel documents are secured.

The operations in Clase and Ystalyfera followed visits to businesses in Ammanford and Llandybie on Thursday, 4 June.

At China Wok, 3 Church Street, Llandybie, two illegal workers were found employed in the kitchens - a 47-year-old Chinese woman and a 50-year-old Bangladeshi man.

At Shezan restaurant, 32 College Street, Ammanford, a 31-year-old Bangladeshi man, who was employed as a waiter, was found to have overstayed his visa.

The three illegal workers found on 4 June will be removed from the United Kingdom once emergency passports are obtained.

Each of the five businesses visited by the UK Border Agency were issued with penalty notices for employing illegal workers and may now face a fines of up to £10,000 per illegal worker (up to £90,000 in total).

To avoid the fines, the employers must prove to the UK Border Agency that they carried out the correct right-to-work checks (such as asking for a passport or work permit) before giving the men jobs.

Jane Farleigh, Regional Director of the UK Border Agency in Wales and the South West, said:

'We act on all intelligence we receive about illegal working, cracking down on those who seek to profit by abusing immigration laws.

'Illegal working is unfair on honest employers who recruit staff with the right to work in the UK and who pay them a proper salary.

'We are happy to work with companies to help them make sure the right checks are carried out before they employ migrant workers, but those who flout the law face large fines.'

To avoid the fine, the employers must prove to the UK Border Agency that they carried out the correct right-to-work checks (such as asking for a passport or work permit) before giving the men jobs.

Civil penalties for business owners who fail to carry out the proper checks when employing migrant workers from outside Europe were introduced by the Government in February 2008. If you are an employer and you are unsure of the steps you must take to avoid employing illegal workers, you can visit www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/employers or call our employers' helpline on 0845 010 6677.

Anyone who suspects that illegal workers are being employed at a business in Devon or Cornwall can contact the UK Border Agency on 01752 275 161.