The Latest on Right to Work Checks and Illegal Workers
On 12 July, the Home Office published updated guidance for employers to following the commencement of illegal working provisions.
The law on preventing illegal working is set out in sections 15 to 25 of the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 (the 2006 Act) and sections 24 and 24B of the Immigration Act 1971. On 12 July 2016, sections 34 and 35 of the Immigration Act 2016 (the 2016 Act) were commenced.
Section 34 of the 2016 Act amends the Immigration Act 1971 by inserting a new offence of illegal working (section 24B). Section 35 amends section 21 of the 2006 Act sets out the criminal offence of employing a worker with no legal entitlement to do so in the UK.
Background
Employers continue to have a duty to prevent illegal working in the UK. Employers are expected to do so by carrying out prescribed document checks on candidates before employing them to ensure they are lawfully allowed to work. For employees with time-limited permission to work in the UK, employers are expected to carry out more regular and time appropriate checks. See my earlier article on right to work document checks: Click here. By adhering to the prescribed right to work checks, an employer will have a statutory excuse and may not have to pay a civil penalty should they be found to have employed an illegal worker.
Illegal workers include but are not limited to:
- Students with expired visas, or students working more hours than they’re allowed to
- People who work on a visitor’s visa
- Those carrying out roles and functions not listed on their visa
The offence of illegal working is detailed as follows:
With effect from 12 July 2016, under section 24B of the 1971 Act (as inserted by section 34 of the 2016 Act), a person commits the offence of illegal working if he is:
- Subject to immigration control and works when disqualified from doing so by reason of his immigration status; and
- At the time, he knows or has reasonable cause to believe that he is disqualified from working by reason of his immigration status.
A person has been disqualified by reason of his immigration status if:
- He has not been granted leave to enter or remain in the UK; or
- His leave to enter or remain in the UK:
- is invalid
- has ceased to have effect (whether by reason of curtailment, revocation, cancellation, passage of time, or otherwise), or
- is subject to a condition preventing the person from doing work of that kind.
What does this actually mean in practice?
An employer may commit the offence of employing an illegal worker if they employ a person who does not have permission to work in the UK and, more importantly, the employer knows or has reasonable cause to believe that the person has no right to do the work in question.
As a result, the employer can no longer evade prosecution where the investigating body cannot prove that the employer knew that the employee had no permission to work. The amended offence enables employers to be prosecuted where they have reasonable cause to believe that the employee could not undertake the employment, even where they have perhaps deliberately ignored information or circumstances that would have caused the employer to know that the employee lacked permission to work.
The new offence attempts to close some loopholes that existed. Further, the provisions no longer apply to employees only, but also to apprenticeships and the self-employed.
Penalties
Employers suspected of employing an illegal worker will be issued with a ‘referral notice’ informing them that:
- The matter is being considered
- Outlining the possible penalties. That is an unlimited fine (also known as a ‘civil penalty’) for each illegal worker
An employer may avoid a fine where they can demonstrate that they carried out the correct right to work checks. This highlights again how important it is for employers to not only make proper checks but also to retain records of those right to work checks.
Once the matter has been investigated and the employer is found to be liable for employing an illegal worker, the employer may be served with a civil penalty. The employer will then be given 28 days to respond, make payment as detailed in the notice or lodge an appeal. Not only that, but the employer may find their business details and results of the civil penalty notice made public.
For the individual concerned, should they be found to have worked without permission, their wages can be seized as if it were the proceeds of crime and they may face imprisonment and removal from the UK.
Conclusion
It cannot be stressed enough the need for businesses to seek immigration advice at the earliest to ensure that they are meeting (or continuing to meet) their legal obligations when employing workers. If done properly, employers can get on with their primary concern, running and growing their business. Fail to carry out correct right to work checks and an employer can find themselves facing severe penalties, including crippling fines, imprisonment and possible reputational damage.
Given the penalties and government’s appetite for managing immigration issues, the costs of securing legal advice to ensure compliance far outweigh the risks of employing an illegal worker.
Written by Carla Thomas – Managing Director at Thomas Chase immigration.
Thomas Chase Immigration offer immigration assistance to individuals and families.
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