Hiring illegal migrants: Construction industry targeted

The construction industry has been cited as one of the sectors to be targeted by the government’s clamp down on ‘rogue employers’ who employ illegal migrants.

Immigration officers are reported to be targeting construction sites, as well as care homes and cleaning firms, where the practice is seen as more commonplace. Immigration Minister James Brokenshire says those firms found in breach of the law will face “the full force of government machinery”.

The move comes as the government faces criticism over the crisis in Calais, which has seen thousands of illegal migrants attempting to enter the UK across the channel.

Raids will stepped up by Immigration Enforcement teams, with HM Revenue & Customs, the Gangmasters’ Licensing Authority and Health and Safety Executive also taking part.

The Minister said that firms who were willing to employ illegal migrants were more likely to be breaking other laws as well.

Mr Brokenshire said: “Rogue employers who give jobs to illegal migrants are denying work to UK citizens and legal migrants and helping drive down wages.

“Experience tells us that employers who are prepared to cheat employment rules are also likely to breach health and safety rules and pay insufficient tax.

“That’s why our new approach will be to use the full force of government machinery to hit them from all angles and take away the unfair advantage enjoyed by those who employ illegal migrants.”

Shadow Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, said: Exploitation hurts everyone – those who are working hard and being exploited, other workers whose pay and jobs are undercut, and responsible employers who are undermined.

“Action to identify employers exploiting illegal working is important but the government should still do more to target serious exploitation and undercutting, some of which is effectively modern slavery – they should extend the Gangmasters’ Licensing Authority and make exploitation a crime.”

The campaign group, Migration Watch, has suggested the number of illegal migrants in the UK could be as high as just over a million people.

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