UK NEWS

JAIL FOR HIRING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS

Home Office has announced regulations on firms hiring illegal immigrants

Thursday February 28,2008

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Employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants can now be jailed for two years under new measures.

Unscrupulous bosses could also be hit with an unlimited fine, as part of changes which the Home Office claim amount to the biggest immigration shake-up in a generation.

Firms which are negligent about checking whether their employees have the right to work in Britain could also be hit with a £10,000 on-the-spot fine for every illegal they hire.

The first stage of the Government's much-trumpeted points-based system has also come into force.

The initial tier will apply only to highly-skilled workers who want to take jobs in the UK, and other elite workers already in the country who want to extend their visas.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said: "The introduction of our Australian-style points system will ensure that only those with skills the country needs can come to work and study.

"(The) proposals are part of the biggest changes to British immigration policy in a generation, which include a new deal for those migrants seeking citizenship here, a new UK Border Agency to strengthen controls at the border and the introduction of ID cards for foreign nationals."

Ministers also revealed that businesses which want to sponsor and employ migrants must be licensed by the Border and Immigration Agency.

A licence will be required from the autumn, when the second tier of the points-based system is due to come into effect.

The points-based system replaces 80 existing migration routes to the UK.

MORE RUBBISH FROM THE GOVERNMENT WITH NO CREDIBILITY

29.02.08, 1:37pm

The Home Secretary should be locked up for not enforcing the laws. Nobody would miss her if she wasn't around.
How many businesses have ACTUALLY been fined? The Express should do a FOIA for say the past 5 years, and see how little this scummy government has really done.
Byrne, have you sorted out those language schools and their fake papers for student visas yet, or are you incompetent or simply an outright traitor?

• Posted by: The_Boss • Report Comment

PAPER TIGER

29.02.08, 10:13am

I'll believe this when I see it happening.
Only months ago the London TV news carried a report on raids in Chinatown aimed at finding illegal immigrants working in restaurants there. The following day a meeting was held by police and immigration officials for the purpose of apologising to the restauranteurs for any distress that the raids had caused!

• Posted by: gimleteye7 • Report Comment

NO CHANCE

29.02.08, 9:48am

Interesting?! A few years ago I was part of an operation that combined teams from Vat, Inland
Revenue, Immigration and the police that was due to raid 15 Asian restaurants across south Birmingham. The remit was to look for the off record books of account (you know, the ones with the real figures!) check that National Insurance and tax was being declared for all the ‘’employees’ found and pick up any illegals found working. The then Minster Dawn Primorola was due to come with us but pulled out on the night! She suddenly realised being part of an operation that might attract criticism, mainly racism for targeting people breaking the law was not good for her career.
Surprisingly, Immigration also pulled out at the last moment. The three remaining agencies went ahead and as we announced ourselves at the front door several illegals dived out through the back, into the arms of the police. Obviously without the Immigration bods that side was a waste of time and they all went free.
When push comes to shove don’t expect too much. There will probably, be an overtime ban by Immigration so effective raids at night-time will be out. Is there really the political will to risk upsetting the core ethnic minority vote in places like Birmingham? The answer is NO

• Posted by: Insider • Report Comment

HOME OFFICE MINISTER AND EXECUTIVES?

29.02.08, 9:41am

"Unscrupulous bosses could also be hit with an unlimited fine, as part of changes which the Home Office claim amount to the biggest immigration shake-up in a generation."

HOORAY!!!

Does this mean that the ministers and the executives who hire illegal immigrants (domestic or official) will be jailed as well?

• Posted by: Nalin • Report Comment

JAIL FOR HIRING ILLEGALS

29.02.08, 9:35am

Good idea...now i look forward to the heads of govt. departments spending a few years in our overcrowded prisons for employing agencies that supply govt. and companies with cheap unchecked labour. Perhaps two years will be enough to sharpen the minds of ministers and ensure our borders are sealed, because even though we are surrounded by water more illegals hit this country than the land based borders of Europe. Deport illegals quicker and they won't be in the country long enough to get a job!!!!!!!

• Posted by: Daveyboy • Report Comment