Week-long crackdown on illegal working results in 75 arrests – The Irish News

Immigration Enforcement agents have arrested 75 suspected illegal workers as part of a week-long crackdown.

Officers visited more than 225 businesses, mainly car washes, last week and 122 of them were fined for employing illegal workers, the Interior Ministry said.

Yvette Cooper, Home Secretary, said: “It is completely wrong that rogue employers are working hand in hand with smuggling gangs who are risking people’s lives to bring them here illegally and force them into illegal jobs.

“These workers are fed complete lies by the gangs before being forced to live in appalling conditions and work for a living wage. We are determined to put an end to this, which is exactly why we have taken such heavy-handed measures.

“While this operation is an important step forward, our commitment to tackling this issue is ongoing. We will ensure that those who break the rules experience the full force of the law.”

Officials said illegal workers were often kept in “squalid” conditions, paid below the minimum wage and forced to work long hours, while their employers undercut their competitors and often did not pay their fair share of taxes.

Companies that employ people illegally face fines of up to £45,000 per employee for the first offence and up to £60,000 per employee for repeat offenders.

Ms Cooper announced plans for Immigration Enforcement to “intensify” operations over the summer shortly after taking office in July as part of Labour’s plans to improve border security.

On Wednesday, she said she wanted to use the next six months to achieve the highest rate of deportations of people who have no right to stay in the UK since 2018, and announced a new “intelligence-led” plan to tackle companies employing people illegally.

Eddy Montgomery, director of enforcement, compliance and crime at Immigration Enforcement, said: “This week’s operation demonstrates the Home Office’s commitment to protecting vulnerable people and holding employers to account.

“We are committed to ending exploitation by criminal gangs, ensuring vulnerable people get the right support and that those who break the law face serious consequences.

“I am incredibly proud of our teams across the country for their hard work and teamwork in preparing for and executing this national operation.”