Notts illegal workers deported

THREE people who were working illegally in Kirkby-in-Ashfield have been deported.

The people - a 31-year-old woman, 37-year-old man and his 35-year-old fiancee - were found when Immigration officers went to the Good Food Chinese Cantonese Takeaway in Kingsway on October 16.

The three were found to be from Malaysia and were all put on a plane to Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday.

A fourth man, a 20-year-old Chinese failed asylum seeker, was also found and the UK Border Agency is now taking steps to remove him from the country.

The business was issued with an on-the-spot penalty notice and could face fines of up to £40,000.

Phil Dyer, head of the UK Border Agency's East Midlands Local Immigration Team, said: "Every month many businesses in Nottinghamshire are paid a visit as we continue to pull the plug on the illegal jobs which lure illegal immigrants to come to the UK.

"We have caught dozens of illegal workers in the county over the last few months and have fined companies tens of thousands of pounds for hiring illegal labour.

"Illegal working is unfair on honest employers who recruit staff with the right to work in the UK and who pay them a proper salary.

"We will continue to support those companies who seek to comply with the law. But bosses who don't play by the rules will get struck off our register, lose the right to recruit staff from outside Europe, face on the spot fines and could potentially end up in jail."

To avoid fines, businesses must prove to the UK Border Agency that they carried out proper checks to employ workers outside the EU.

Guidance for employers can be found at www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/employingmigrants or by calling the UK Border Agency Employers Helpline on 0300 123 4699.