Recent immigration enforcement activity has highlighted the need for employers to ensure their workers have the right to work in the UK. With thousands of enforcement visits, arrests, and hefty fines being issued, businesses that neglect their responsibilities risk serious consequences.
Crackdown on illegal working
Immigration Enforcement teams have been targeting sectors prone to illegal employments, such as car washes, nail bars, supermarkets, and constructions sites.
Between July and November last year, enforcement teams conducted thousands of visits across the UK. These led to 770 arrests in London alone, with nearly 1,000 premises inspected.
Employers found guilty of hiring workers without the right to work face fines of up to £60,000 per worker, along with reputational damage and potential criminal charges.
How to stay compliant
Employers are required to carry out right to work checks before employing someone.
You need to:
-Request sight of original documents: Review the worker’s passport, visa, or other approved documents that prove their right to work in the UK.
-Verify authenticity: Confirm that the documents are genuine, belong to the individual, and haven’t expired.
-Keep records: Retain copies of the documents, including the date you verified them, for at least two years after employment ends.
-Use the Home Office’s online service: The Home Office offers an online right to work checking service for non-UK nationals. This can provide you with confirmation of a worker’s status.
For further guidance on conducting right to work checks, see: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/right-to-work-checks-employers-guide/employers-guide-to-right-to-work-checks-23-september-2024-accessible-version
Energy regulator Ofgem has announced a 4% increase in the energy price cap for the period covering 1 October to 31 December 2026. This increase reflects higher wholesale gas prices due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, with volatile global gas markets remaining the dominant driver of price changes.
UK businesses are facing a “cost of business crisis”, according to the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC). Its new cost-stack calculator shows government policy alone has pushed up an average firm's expenses by 70% over the past decade, adding roughly £827,000 a year in costs for a typical mid-sized business. About a quarter of the rise stems from the increase in employer National Insurance contributions, with the higher minimum wage and mandatory pension auto-enrolment also major contributors.
.gif)