A PENZANCE Chinese restaurant may face a civil penalty fine of up to £20,000 after two illegal workers were found employed there. Officers from the UK Border Agency checked documents at of three staff members at the Chinese Emperor restaurant on the promenade last night (Thursday). Two of them – a 33-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman from China – were found to have no legal right to work in the UK. The pair were arrested and taken to Camborne police station where they remain detained. A spokesman for the UK Border Agency said: "The man is a failed asylum seeker who had not left the UK after his claim for international protection was turned down. "The woman is suspected of overstaying her visa and is still being questioned by immigration officers." The Chinese Emperor was issued at the scene with a Notice of Potential Liability in relation to both illegal workers. If the employers are unable to provide evidence that proper right-to-work checks were carried out, they could face a fine of up to £10,000 per worker – £20,000 in total. The restaurant was forced to close its doors for the night following the operation after only one member of staff was left on the premises. The operation in Penzance comes at a time of massive reform to the UK's immigration system. The Government recently introduced an Australian-style points based system for managing migration, ensuring only those with the skills the UK needs are allowed to work. Employers unsure of the steps they need to take to avoid employing illegal workers can visit www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/employingmigrants or they can call the UK Border Agency Employers Helpline on 0845 010 6677. Anyone who suspects that illegal workers are being employed at a business in Cornwall can contact the UK Border Agency on 01752 275161. |
Restaurant faces £20,000 fine as police crack down on illegal workers
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