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Lowestoft restaurant facing hefty fine
25 September 2009
A Lowestoft restaurant is facing another hefty fine after being caught employing illegal workers for a second time.
The China Diner in High Street was raided by UK Border Agency officers yesterday (24 September) evening.
Four members of staff - all Chinese - were found to be working at the restaurant illegally. The four - a 23-year-old man who was breaching his student visa, a 43-year-old male failed asylum seeker, a 41-year-old female failed asylum seeker and a 44-year-old male failed asylum seeker - have all been detained while arrangements are made for their removal from the UK.
The China Diner now faces a fine of up to £40,000 - £10,000 per employee - unless it can prove that the correct pre-employment checks were carried out.
It is the second time the restaurant has been visited by the UK Border Agency. In August last year the restaurant was caught employing eight illegal immigrants and was fined £15,000.
Chief Immigration Officer Jack Davis, said:
'We continue to offer advice to employers with foreign nationals among their staff and genuine employers have nothing to be concerned about by contacting us for help.
'However, those who persist in using illegal labour to cut costs will be penalised and we will concentrate our efforts on them to reduce the incentive for illegal migration to this region.'
A tough new civil penalty system was brought in last year to provide a fast and effective way of tackling bosses who fail to carry out proper checks on workers from outside Europe. A fine of up to £10,000 per worker can be imposed for every illegal worker found at a business.
Guidance for employers on preventing illegal working can be found on the UK Border Agency website, www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/employers or by calling the UK Border Agency Employers Helpline on 0300 123 4699.
Anyone who suspects that illegal workers are being employed in Suffolk should contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where anonymity can be assured.