Businesses employing overseas nationals to work in the United Kingdom will face greater risks of higher penalties for employing illegal workers. Aside from larger fines, risks include downgrading or revocation of the employer’s licence (thus impacting an employer’s ability to sponsor overseas workers) as well as reputational damage to their business as offending employers’ details are published by the Home Office.
Illegal workers can also include business travellers, students, and others who are working in breach of their visa conditions. To reduce risks, it is essential that robust compliance systems are in place, which allow for example: conducting pre-travel due diligence for all business visitors coming to the United Kingdom; carrying out correct right-to-work checks before employment commences, etc.