​Seven-Year Ban for Restaurant Owner Over Illegal Employment

In Hertfordshire, the proprietor of the Taste of Raj, an Indian restaurant and takeaway, has received a seven-year prohibition on serving as a company director. This action comes after it was discovered that Ikbal Hussain, 51, employed three illegal workers from Bangladesh without conducting the mandatory right-to-work checks. The breach was uncovered during a 2020 raid by Immigration Enforcement officials, exposing workers in their 40s who had been employed for four days to two months.

Kevin Read, the Insolvency Service's chief investigator, emphasized the gravity of Hussain's oversight, stating, "Ikbal Hussain's failure to ensure the required checks were carried out resulted in the employment of three illegal workers, in contravention of the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006. This represents a serious breach of legislation and the standards expected of company directors." Consequently, Hussain will be barred from participating in any UK company's promotion, formation, or management for seven years.

Suran Padiachie from the Home Office of Immigration Enforcement highlighted the government's intensified efforts against illegal employment, noting the increase in enforcement activity and the tripling of fines for employers violating the law. "We will continue to work with partners, including the Insolvency Service, to tackle illegal migration in all its forms," Padiachie added.

This case serves as a stern reminder to business owners of the importance of adhering to employment laws and the severe repercussions of neglecting legal responsibilities.

We invite our readers to share their thoughts and comments below on this significant enforcement action and its implications for business practices and immigration policy.