Govt will publish illegal employers details

23/06/2008

The government has said it will publish the names of companies that employ illegal workers.

The home secretary, Jacqui Smith, announced a series of measures to tackle illegal immigration and the reorganisation into local teams of the UK Border Agency (UKBA).

Firms employing illegal labour could face penalties of £10,000 and "from today those businesses hit with fines will be named on the UKBA's website", she warned.

As part of the initiative, employers are encouraged to approach these teams for advice on hiring migrant labour and stopping illegal workers getting jobs.

Ms Smith said the teams would be tracking down illegal migrants "targeting those companies that flout the rules, or gathering intelligence by working with a range of local agencies".

According to a widely reported study by Ernst & Young, Polish and other eastern European immigrants are having a positive effect on the UK economy.

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