Two guides have been published by the Home Office to help employers with recent changes to the UK immigration system, part of which included increasing the maximum penalty for illegally employing an immigrant to £20,000. The guides are in addition to the two revised Codes of Practice relating to illegal working checks that have been published and which were featured in SM&B's 16 May 2014 News Update. The Home Office guides are: An employer's guide to the administration of the civil penalty scheme and An employer's guide to right to work checks. The guides will be referred to by Home Office officials when administering the civil penalty scheme and when considering whether employers have carried out the correct document checks to establish a statutory excuse against liability for a civil penalty, if they are found to employ illegal workers.

Content Note

The aim is to provide summary information and comment on the subject areas covered. In particular, where employment tribunal and appellate court cases are reported, the information does not set out full details of all the facts, the legal arguments presented by the parties and the judgments made in every aspect of the case. Click on the links provided to access full details. If no link is provided contact us for further information. Employment law is subject to constant change either by statute or by interpretation by the courts. While every care has been taken in compiling this information, SM&B cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions. Specialist legal advice must be taken on any legal issues that may arise before embarking upon any formal course of action.