Bedford restaurant faces another illegal employer fine

26th January 2010, 9:42am

A Bedford restaurant is facing the prospect of another large fine after it was caught employing illegal workers for a second time.

Officers found two illegal workers at the Al Badar Restaurant in Midland Road when they carried out an intelligence led visit on Wednesday (20 January) evening.

The staff members in question, a 30-year-old Afghan man and a 39-year-old Pakistani man, were both illegal entrants and were found working in the kitchens.

The Al Badar had previously been fined £10,000 after it was caught employing two other illegal workers in October last year.

The business now faces a further potential fine of up to £20,000 - £10,000 per member of staff - unless it can prove the correct pre-employment checks were carried out.

Inspector Rob Tompkins, of the local immigration team for Bedfordshire and West Northamptonshire, said: "Businesses that flagrantly ignore the strict rules around employing foreign nationals can expect to get caught and to get fined, with increased penalties for repeat offenders. Anyone who takes on a foreign national without permission to work in the UK is not only breaking the law, but also undermining legitimate local businesses."

The Al Badar was not the only Bedford business caught with illegal workers on Wednesday evening.

Nando's in the High Street was also visited by our officers who found a 38-year-old Nigerian man who was working without permission. The kitchen worker had overstayed his visa.

Nando's now faces a potential fine of up to £10,000 unless it can prove the correct pre-employment checks were carried out.

The operations are part of an ongoing clamp down on illegal working in Bedfordshire. Fines worth more than £150,000 were issued to 16 businesses in the county last year alone.

Related Articles:

• 21 Apr 2010 - How to avoid illegal workers and penalties

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