£20,000 fine for Ballymena takeaway
Thursday, 23 October 2008
A Chinese takeaway in Ballymena has been fined £20,000 for employing four illegal workers, after an operation carried out by the UK Border Agency.
Officers from the UKBA visited the Jade House in Henry Street in June, after receiving intelligence that workers were employed illegally there.
Three Chinese men and one woman were discovered working at the takeaway, despite having no right to work in the UK. One of the men and the woman have already been removed back to China, and steps are being taken to remove the remaining two men from the UK.
The Jade House was given a notice in June, warning that they could receive a civil penalty of up to £10,000 per illegal worker for not making the correct right to work checks.
No evidence was provided, and employer Steven Yuk Moon Lau has now been given a £20,000 civil penalty.
Phil Taylor, Regional Director of the UK Border Agency in Scotland and Northern Ireland said: "The message is clear - the UK Border Agency will not tolerate illegal working, which threatens to damage our communities. This is a substantial fine, and it shows that we are determined to step in and identify businesses that are breaking immigration laws. And if you have no right to be here and are working illegally you are likely to get caught and be removed from the UK - wherever you try to hide."
The UK Border Agency wants to encourage employers in Northern Ireland to make sure they carry out the proper right to work checks.
Employers unsure of the steps they need to take to avoid employing illegal workers can visit http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/employers/ or call the UK Border Agency Employers Helpline on 0845 010 6677.
An Australian-style points based system for managing migration has recently been introduced, ensuring that only those with the skills the UK needs are allowed to work.
On the spot fines of up to £10,000 per illegal employee have also been introduced for employers who don't make the correct right to work checks, and those businesses hit with fines will be named on the UK Border Agency's website.
