UK unveils workplace checks to curb illegal employment

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The United Kingdom has announced tougher steps to combat illegal employment, including expanded workplace inspections and stricter compliance requirements for businesses.

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In a statement shared on X on Tuesday, the UK Home Office reaffirmed its hardline stance, outlining a series of enforcement actions aimed at curbing unauthorised work and holding employers accountable.

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According to the department, the new measures are designed to strengthen immigration control and discourage companies from hiring individuals who lack legal permission to work in the country.

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Authorities said the crackdown will involve increased compliance activity, including on-site inspections and verification checks at business locations.

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“Illegal working will not be tolerated in the UK. We are: Introducing right to work checks; Removing illegal workers from the UK; Ensuring companies who break the rules face unlimited fines,” it wrote.

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The move comes as the government faces mounting political pressure to tighten immigration enforcement and respond to concerns about illegal employment across multiple sectors of the economy.

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Official estimates indicate that the UK is home to between 10 and 11 million foreign-born residents, representing roughly 17 per cent of the population.

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While the majority of migrants live and work legally under various visa categories such as employment, education, family reunification, or humanitarian protection, authorities note that a smaller proportion remain in the workforce without proper authorisation.

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