Individuals without the required UK visas have been discovered working at an Aberdeen restaruant, making this the second time the establishment has faced a fine for employing illegal workers.
The two Bangladeshi men and Nepalese man were discovered working at the Jewel in the Crown on Crown Street in the city last week (Friday, Janauary 27th) after UK Border Agency (UKBA) officers took action on intelligence and raided the location.
Two of the workers have been detained pending their removal from the country, while the third is required to report to a police station on a regular basis while his removal is arranged.
But the restaurant's problems could be just beginning. It is facing a fine of up to £30,000 for hiring the individuals and has already been served with a civil penalty notice. Unless the restaurant is able to prove that it conducted the required checks before hiring the group – such as checking their passports or immigration documents – it will be hit with the fine.
The same establishment was forced to pay £20,000 when officers discovered four illegal workers back in September 201.
Commenting on the matter, assistant director of the UKBA in Scotland, Adam Sarcliffe, commented: “'Employing illegal workers undercuts honest businesses and defrauds the public purse. There is no excuse for using illegal labour, and if people ignore our immigration laws, we will find them and remove them from the country.”