The Home Office has been increasing efforts to tackle illegal working across the UK, leading to a significant rise in enforcement action.
Illegal working & immigration offences
According to figures released by the Home Office on 2 December, Immigration Enforcement teams conducted 3,188 visits between 5 July and 31 October 2024, resulting in 2,299 arrests. This marks a 34% increase in visits and a 25% rise in arrests compared to the same period in 2023.
Recent operations have specifically targeted industries where illegal working is common. For example, in Operation Tornado, carried out in November, enforcement teams conducted 235 visits to nail bars and convenience stores, arresting 154 people suspected of working illegally. During this operation, over 50 businesses were issued civil penalty referral notices worth up to £4 million. Other industries being targeted include the care sector, construction and car washes.
The government’s intensified enforcement forms part of broader plans to reduce net migration, improve border security and disrupt criminal smuggling networks.
Employers found guilty of hiring illegal workers face penalties of up to £60,000 per worker if they fail to conduct proper right to work checks.Illegal workers are often found living in squalid conditions on-site, working excessively long hours for far below the National Minimum Wage. This exploitation not only harms vulnerable individuals but also creates an unfair advantage for rogue employers, undercutting honest businesses that follow the law. Such practices also mean that these businesses often fail to contribute their fair share in taxes, which impacts the economy.
Recent initiatives have also redirected resources toward deporting individuals who have no legal right to remain in the UK. The Home Secretary reported nearly 10,000 enforced returns since the last general election, with enforced returns up by 19% and voluntary returns up by 14%.
Employer Takeaways
With enforcement efforts increasing, businesses should be proactive in auditing existing workforce records and maintaining robust hiring procedures to meet legal requirements. The government’s recent actions make it clear that there is a zero-tolerance approach to businesses that exploit illegal labour, and employers who fail to adhere to the rules risk facing severe financial and operational consequences.
To discuss how we can help you meet your compliance obligations through audits, training and specialist solutions, contact us.
Author
Founder and Managing Director Anne Morris is a fully qualified solicitor and trusted adviser to large corporates through to SMEs, providing strategic immigration and global mobility advice to support employers with UK operations to meet their workforce needs through corporate immigration.
She is a recognised by Legal 500 and Chambers as a legal expert and delivers Board-level advice on business migration and compliance risk management as well as overseeing the firm’s development of new client propositions and delivery of cost and time efficient processing of applications.
Anne is an active public speaker, immigration commentator, and immigration policy contributor and regularly hosts training sessions for employers and HR professionals
