Two held in crackdown on illegal workers

TWO men were arrested after immigration officers swooped at an Oldham foodstore in a crackdown on illegal working.

Officers from the UK Border Agency, acting on intelligence reports, visited Worldwide Foods in Glodwick Road, Oldham, to check workers’ documents.

A 26-year-old Pakistani man was arrested and bailed for overstaying his visa and told to report regularly to the Border Agency pending his removal. Another Pakistani man, aged 28, is also awaiting removal after overstaying his visa.

A Notice of Potential Liability was served on the company which employed the men. The notice warns the company it is subject to a fine of up to £10,000 for each illegal worker. The level of fine has not yet been set.

Eddy Montgomery, operations director of the UK Border Agency in the North-West, said: “We will not tolerate illegal working, in Manchester or anywhere else.

“It undercuts British wages and exploits vulnerable workers.

“As long as there are illegal jobs, the UK will be an attractive place for illegal immigrants. That’s why we have to put a stop to employers who don’t play by the rules.”

He added: “These arrests are part of a continuing clamp down on illegal working in Manchester to reduce the attractiveness of the UK to illegal immigrants.

“Anyone in Manchester who takes on a foreign national without permission to work in the UK is breaking the law, undermining law-abiding businesses, and faces a big fine.

“There are strict rules about which foreign nationals can get a job in the UK and businesses have a clear responsibility to carry out the right checks.”

Employers who are unsure of the steps they need to take to avoid employing illegal workers can visit www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/employers or contact the UK Border Agency Employers Helpline on 0845 010 6677.

Anyone who suspects that illegal workers are being employed at a business in the area should contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800-555 111.